Nathan dragged me away, his grip rough and impatient, his hand covering my mouth. He didn't take me to a room but instead pulled me into the small sitting area, where Eleanor was already seated on the couch.
My biological mother.
Her gaze was as cold as ever.
She stepped up to me and raised her hand.
"Juliana! You hung up on your elders! You bullied your sister! A wild child raised in an orphanage—no wonder you have no manners!"
The slap landed hard, my cheek burning instantly. But the sting on my skin was nothing compared to the pain of her words.
"Mom, how could you treat Juliana like this? She was wrong, but she's still my sister," Nathan said calmly as he pulled Eleanor away. Then, he instructed someone to bring an ice pack.
He gently pressed it against my face as he spoke. "Jul
