Chapter 166
DEMI
My hands tremble as I end the call. A wave of nausea hits me, threatening to make me spill my guts. I bend over with a hand closed over my mouth and the other on my stomach.
"Wow." Liam exclaims, clapping his hands. "That was...beyond impressive. Your acting skills even under pressure is Oscar approved." He smiles at Skylar who pries my phone out of my hand before I bolt to a corner and throw up.
"I guess we’re going to shop for your party dress. This is my favorite part..."
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" I yell at her after wiping my mouth. "What the hell is wrong with both of you? How are you not ashamed of yourselves right now? Do you think you’re better than the people who hurt you even after all this?" I walk up to Skylar. "Look, I don’t know the backstory here but I suspect you and I have a similar bone to pick with Brett Rollins. I get that you’re livid that they were unremorseful of their wrongs towards you but here’s what I’ve realized after spending six years obsessed with getting my revenge. If you happen to enjoy doing evil in the name of avenging your loved ones, then you were always innately evil just like the Rollins family. THIS," I add referring to Ashal and the phone call, "none of it is okay and if you had a conscience or a moral compass at the very least, you’d feel ashamed of yourself."
Quick as a whiplash, she smacks me so hard across the cheek blood trickles from my torn lip.
"Don’t you EVER compare me to those monsters!" She warns while wagging a finger in my face. Her eyes widen like saucers as she drives home her defense.
"This is justice for all the evil they’ve wrought in this world, and all the lives they’ve destroyed." A dry chuckle follows. "You and I are nothing alike, Demi. The Rollins family killed your parents and because you’re too weak to keep your head in the game and fight them, you’re here sucking up to them to win brownie points with Ashton. Disgraceful!" She spits on the floor and steps back, her face aglow with hatred under the glow of the light.
"That family took everything from me: everything. Brett stole everything from me! He took my parents and made me an orphan. He took my family’s wealth and made me beg for scraps of food all my life. He even took my siblings and turned them to poisonous monsters like himself. He took everything and left me with nothing but this life goal; to end his evil reign and eliminate everything that tethers him to this world. I will never feel ashamed for doing the world this service."
Her eyes find Ashal’s who’s shocked at her words. She squats to stare at him. "Mother would be so ashamed to see what you all have become. She didn’t go through nine hours of labor or fight to keep you just for you to become...this. You are a disappointment and a disgrace. YOU WILL NEVER BE MY BROTHER." Tears stream down her face as well as Ashal’s eyes. "YOU WILL ONLY EVER BE THE SHAMELESS SON WHO REMAINED LOYAL TO THE DEVIL THAT RIPPED HIM AND HIS BROTHERS FROM THE ARMS OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS RIGHT BEFORE SETTING THEIR HOME ABLAZE."
She spits on him before stepping back and slamming my phone back into my hands. I rush to comfort Ashal who’s struggling not to be overwhelmed with emotion.