Chapter 4
Sirius’s eyes widened at the snake cufflinks that Ebony wore at his sleeves.
Disbelief showed all over his face as he looked at Ebony’s exceedingly handsome face, and he dropped the branding iron as he cried, “What are you talking about?! You’re Ebony, aren’t you?! You’re trying to force Lola to marry you, aren’t you?! Just so you know, we’re marked!”
He was only left all the more alarmed as he watched Ebony smile and take my hand, before finally regarding him in amusement. “I’d never once mentioned anything about marrying Lola-it was always Winnie, who had personally concocted the potion. Only fools like you would like a liar like Lola!”
Sirius’ heart skipped a beat-what was Ebony talking about?!
The rest of the guests were in an uproar, some vocally doubting that Lola had made the winning potion.
At the same time, Lola turned pale.
Before she could burst into tears, I glared at my parents, who had just come downstairs. “We had a deal.”
My mother pursed her lips in embarrassment, but she eventually walked up to Lola and whispered something into her ear.
Lola snapped right then, “No, I made that potion! What the Serpentkins do to you is your own problem! Sirius has marked me anyway, so your family’s problem isn’t mine!”
My parents were left gaping at her as if they finally saw who she truly was, while I chuckled coolly as I had always known-they were just blinded by their own favoritism.
That was when Ebony clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers.
Several bodyguards promptly restrained Lola, while one of them pulled out a clear bottle.
Lola struggled violently and sobbed miserably. “Please, Sirius! Help me-Winnie’s trying to kill me!”
Sirius glowered as he charged up, bellowing, “Stop! What do you think you’re doing?!”
Ebony simply grinned. “Your beloved rabbit has just insisted she concocted the potion, but she doesn’t even recognize it? Also, it’s no poison-just an Elixir of Truth.”
Sirius paused as he realized that he was going to face a truth he had always denied, while Lola’s eyes widened in guilt and struggled even fiercer.
Still, she failed and had to bite down her lips after being forced to drink the Elixir, but she still couldn’t stop herself.
Her expression maniacal, she shrieked, “So what if I’d stolen Winnie’s potion?! No matter how gifted she is, she’s nothing more than my stepping stone!”
Then, turning to smile at Sirius, she gloated, “Do you think I really love you? Hell, no! You’re just the tamest and stupidest mutt at the kennels, believing everything I say every time, even taking away eight of Winnie’s lives because I said so!”
Seething, Sirius kicked her to the ground as he roared, “You bitch!”
However, the Elixir of Truth was still in effect, and she wheeled onto my parents maliciously. “Oh, and you two fossils-did you think that accident was an accident? I sabotaged your brakes, and then showed up to save you! Oh, how naive you were, being so grateful to me for that!”
That accident was the reason my parents adopted Lola, who was homeless before.
They certainly didn’t think that it was all a staged act- so much so that my father passed out, while my mother’s loving gaze turned to inconsolable resentment as she leaped up and slapped Lola twice, screaming, “You vile seed! Ingrate!”
1/2
Chapter 4
+15 Bonus
Even as the parlor erupted into chaos, I wasn’t interested in the drama.
Noticing that, Ebony squeezed my hand and said, “Come home with me, Winnie. I’ll be your family from now on.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
Just as I was about to reach his car, a red-eyed Sirius came running after me. “Please, Winnie! I made a mistake-don’t go with him, please!
“I love you… I’ve only realized now that I’ve always loved you! It was all that bitch’s fault-she tricked me!”
His late confession simply amused and disgusted me, and I turned to level a pointed stare at the rabbit Mark on his neck, calmly saying, “Actually, I think you both deserve each other. I wish you happiness, staying tied to her for the rest of your life.”
Sirius was left clutching his chest with a wounded look, but I didn’t look at him twice and shut the door without hesitation.
Sirius tried to run after us, but Ebony’s bodyguards encircled him.
Even so, he clawed at the mark on his neck while screaming hysterically, “No! I’m not giving up, Winnie! I will try to undo the mark and be with you again!”
