Chapter 210

Christian was too furious to speak.

Just as he turned to leave, Gabriel barked, “If you dare bring her so much as a crumb, I’ll have you locked up in a psych ward to rot. Try me, you muddle-headed idiot!”

Christian’s face went dead pale, his jaw tensed.

He shuffled to the door, changed into slippers, and then stormed upstairs, seething.

In the attic, he rapped on the door.

Daniella opened it, weak-kneed, her lips chapped and peeling.

“Chris, I’m starving. The maids kicked my food over on purpose. They’re starving me on purpose. Now that I’m not the heiress, they’re all ganging up on me,” she blubbered as soon as she saw him.

“The maids said you flipped out and kicked the tray,” Christian said.

Daniella nearly pushed him away. “You believe them too? They’re a bunch of two-faced scum!”

“You’re a lady. Watch your mouth,” Christian chided.

“Right, I’m trash. Nothing I do is right anymore!” Daniella exploded, always quick to lash out at those who showed her kindness.

“Dani, calm down,” Christian snapped.

“Calm down? I’m starving to death!” she wailed. Everything she did was a crime now.

“Dad cut off your meals as punishment. But don’t worry, I’ll sneak you food from the fridge tonight. Just hang on till tomorrow when he calms down.” He tried to pacify her.

Daniella sniffled. “So I can’t even get a bite to eat now?”

“Dad just wants you to cut out the drama,” Christian said wearily.

“Drama?” Daniella was dumbfounded.

She’d done nothing today, stuck in the attic, not even stepping foot outside. I’m out of their hair. Yet they still wouldn’t let me be, she thought.

“They’re trying to drive me to kill myself,” she wailed. “Is that what they need to be happy?”

“Dani, just hang in there a bit longer. I’m figuring something out.” Christian’s chest ached seeing her snot-nosed and teary.

“I’m starving. How the hell am I supposed to hang in there?”

Christian was helpless. After a beat, he blurted, “Wait here.”

He turned and stormed off.

Downstairs, he ignored Gabriel glued to the news, and started ransacking the fridge.

Gabriel clocked his move, chucked the remote, and barked at a maid, “Get me a goddamn stick!”

“Come on, what if she actually starves?” Bianca grabbed his arm.

Stephen thought, We starved Abigail and she didn’t croak. Is Daniella so delicate she’ll die from one missed meal?

But with Gabriel ready to explode, he kept his mouth shut.

Gabriel shoved Bianca away. “Look at the crap you raised. None of our sons amount to anything, but the daughter you treated like trash—Abigail—is the only one who’s any good to this family. What kind of mother are you? How dare you stop me?”

The maid handed over the stick.

Christian, arms loaded with food, had just stepped out of the kitchen when the stick smacked him square in the face.

The food spilled onto the floor, and his cheek stung like hell.

Already pissed, now he was livid. “Dad!” he roared.

“I ain’t your old man. Save your so-called respect for Daniella. You ungrateful piece of shit, who told you to grab that?” Gabriel snarled, whaling on him with the stick.

Christian had no clue that the more he went to bat for Daniella, the worse he was making it for her.

Too dazed to move, he just stood there as the blows landed, his whole body aching.

When Gabriel finally stopped to catch his breath, he jammed the stick against Christian’s cheek. “Get the hell out now! Show your face here again and see what happens. I’ll let her starve to teach her a lesson for all her goddamn drama.

“She thinks she’s still Miss High and Mighty? That fucking bastard tore this family apart, and she’s got the nerve to give me attitude?”

Daniella heard every bellow from downstairs, each word pounding in her ears.

She hugged her knees by the door, and every second felt like an eternity.

She had no idea what would happen to her now that Christian was kicked out.

If only I’d kept my mouth shut. I chased away the only person who tried to help, she thought.