Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 23

The night before court, Gabriella heard something break while showering.

She quickly rinsed off, threw on her robe, and rushed out.

The bedroom was empty, but porcelain shards littered the floor.

Her heart stopped—it was the ceramic figurine her mother had left her.

They'd painted it together at a pottery studio on her twelfth birthday. A pale blue puppy, with their names etched on the back.

Seeing it shattered, rage consumed her.

"Who did this?!" she shouted, storming out.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" She pounded on Drake's door across the hall.

"Drake! Sienna! Which one of you was in my room?"

Drake opened the door, irritation clear. "What's with the noise? People are trying to sleep."

Gabriella's chest heaved with fury, her eyes murderous. "Were you in my room?"

"Why would I be in your room?" Drake frowned. "Stop making scenes. I've been reviewing contracts."

"If not you, then Sienna." Gabriella turned toward Sienna's room at the end of the hall.

Drake followed, concerned by her intensity.

"Sienna! Open up!" Gabriella kicked the door.

Drake stared. Was this really his usually gentle Gabriella?

What had happened to make her this angry?

Sienna opened the door lazily. "Having a breakdown?"

Gabriella grabbed Sienna's wrist, dragging her toward the bedroom.

"Let go! Let go of me!" Sienna stumbled along.

Gabriella shoved her into the room, making her stumble against a cabinet.

"Are you insane?" Sienna clutched her knee, shouting.

"Did you break my figurine?" Gabriella advanced. "Why were you in my room?"

Sienna's eyes darted away. "I... I wasn't. I've been in my room. Don't accuse me."

Gabriella met her gaze coldly. "Really? I saw your beige dress through the door."

"You're lying! I was wearing grey when I went—" Sienna's mouth ran ahead of her brain.

She flushed angrily. "You tricked me! You didn't see anything!"

"When you what?" Gabriella's voice turned arctic. "You changed into that beige dress after, didn't you?"

Her eyes glinted dangerously. "Why were you in my room?"

Sienna shrank back from that look. "I... I was just looking around..."

"Looking around what?"

Sienna swallowed, terrified Gabriella would discover everything.

"I just..."

"Enough!" Drake stepped between them. "Gabriella, stop making drama over a stupid figurine. Just buy another one. Leave Sienna alone!"

CRACK! The slap echoed through the room.

Gabriella had struck Drake with all her strength.