Chapter 168
DEMI
"What was that?" Anna lashes out the minute Ashton leaves. She chucks the rag on the table and folds her hands across her shoulder with a stern look on her face. "What was all that about, Demi? Why would you say something so insensitive to him despite knowing everything he’s going through?
"Stay out of it, Anna." I move to stow the dress in her bedroom but she follows me.
"What exactly is going on with you, Demi? You’re being weird! Ashton was literally worried sick about you when you went missing shortly after returning to Danvarr. I thought you agreed to let bygones be bygones, to forgive and move on with your life and leave. Why are you back with this grudge and quest for revenge?"
I blank out her worried face as I pull the dress out of the box. What the hell was Skylar thinking when she got me this dress? There’s no way I am going to Ashton’s birthday party half-naked.
"I am talking to you, Demi."
I roll my eyes before turning to Anna. "Fine. You want to know where I was after I returned to Danvarr? Take a wild guess, Anna. I was stripped of all forms of communication. I was locked in a room in a very big mansion and tied to a bedpost. I couldn’t even speak because I had a gag over my mouth."
I huffed out a breath. "I tried so hard to forgive that family and everything they have done to hurt me. I tried to be the bigger person and take the high road but what did I get? They snatched me from the airport and tied me up like a petty criminal in their mansion just to force me to stop exposing them. How many more crimes can I forgive? When will they learn, Anna?"
When Anna tries to console me, I move away from her. My eyes sting with tears because of the frustration I am feeling over Ashal’s condition and my inability to tell Anna the truth. I wish I could confide in her without jeopardizing my plans. I am sick of acting this way even with her.
"I didn’t know that and I am deeply sorry that happened to you." She replies.
I turn around so she doesn’t see the tears threatening to fall. "I think it was for the best. I was starting to believe that family deserved to be spared but clearly, they’re irredeemable. They’ll only continue to hurt more people. Someone has to clip their wings and remind them that they’re not invincible."