Chapter 27
Her hair was tied back and out of her face with a silver barrette; she wore a light layer of makeup, but it made her features glow beautifully.
She was surrounded by people and glittered like a princess. It was so confusing to see her blossoming in such a way. It was like she was a completely different person; someone Joseph didn’t recognize. Yet this woman was his mate.
He caught a glimpse of Ella who was standing nearby Tina. It seems they both noticed Anna as well and they didn’t look particularly happy at her presence.
Ella looked furious as her features lit up red; she bit her lip to keep from screaming but Joseph knew her well enough to know that whenever Ella got like this, trouble soon followed.
“I don’t get why everyone is surrounding that monster,” Ella hissed, loud enough to cut across the party. Those around her turned to look at her with confused expressions. Tina just smirked as her eyes met Anna’s. “She’s an imposter. She wants everyone to believe she’s an artist, but she’s just a fake. She’s a gold–digging orphan who married my brother for his money. It’s pathetic.”
Anna stepped forward; her eyes narrowing in on Ella. Joseph was ready to grab Ella and drag her out of the party himself, but something was stopping him. it was Anna’s presence; James didn’t want to leave her.
“She has no family, and she has no money. She’s nothing but garbage. A gold–digging piece of trash,” Ella seethed. The crowd gasped as the murmurs began jerupting around them.
Anna looked around, her face reddening slightly but she didn’t look bothered by what Ella was saying.
“Ella, what you’re saying is ridiculous,” Anna said, keeping her eyes locked on Ella’s. “I have done nothing wrong in this marriage. I disclosed with Joseph already that I wanted nothing from him.”
“That’s because you make money selling your body on the streets. So, you don’t need his money anymore. But when you were married…” Ella tried to continue, but Anna cut her off shortly after.
“When we were married nothing good came from it. I lost myself during that marriage and I won’t make that mistake again. I make money by selling my artwork and am now a branch manager at the King’s pack central bank. I don’t need Joseph’s money. I don’t need Joseph. Our marriage was nothing but a mistake.”
There were no emotions that crossed her face as she spoke those last words. Joseph felt a bit of pain in his chest hearing Anna refer to their marriage as a mistake.
Everyone seemed to be pleased by her response. They were smiling and clapping for her; they murmured in her favor; boasting about her bravery for standing her ground. They found her brave for surviving such a seemingly terrible marriage. But Joseph still didn’t understand what made it so terrible. He’s never once laid a finger on her and he gave her everything she needed.
Ella went to open her mouth to say something more, but Joseph grabbed onto her arm. He’s had enough of his younger sister berating Anna. He was realizing that Ella has been like this for a while; she never once hid her feelings towards Anna. It was clear that the girls didn’t get along.
“What is wrong with you?!” Joseph sneered as he pulled Ella through the crowd and away from Anna. “Have you always been like this towards her?”
“She’s not good for you, Joseph. I know this, Tina knows this, our parents know this, and our pack knows this. She was just using you…” Ella pouted.
He opened his mouth to tell her that Anna was in fact his mate, but he closed it instantly. That wouldn’t do any good and it was obvious Anna was pretending they never found such a thing out.
“For 3 years…” Joseph breathed between his clenched jaw. “For 3 years you’ve been bullying her like this?”
“It’s not bullying. It’s giving that scheming bitch a taste of reality,” Ella hissed in return. “She’s a monster.”
“No,” Joseph hissed, pulling his eyes away from his sister. He had to try to calm James down before he lost control and ripped out Ella’s throat. “Leave her alone, Ella. I’m serious.”
She pouted again and rolled her eyes, but she didn’t argue. She knew better than to argue with Joseph.
He turned back to Anna, but she was already gone and talking to others.
“A mistake?” James whispered sadly.
When they first got married, Anna was so excited and full of life. Now she was referring to their marriage as a mistake.
Was that how she actually felt?
