Chapter 188
The door slammed shut, and Kendra stepped into the room, flicking a stray tear out of her eyes. It was pathetic having to pretend like she cared that Avery was kidnapped. Horrible that she had to pretend when it was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Kendra fell onto the bed, a smile slowly making its way to her lips, and suddenly, it turned into full-blown laughter. The sound of her laughter echoed through the walls, light and giddy. It was the kind of laughter that came from pure victory.
She rolled onto her back, arms stretched above her head, sinking into the silk sheets with a delighted sigh.
"Finally," she breathed, staring up at the ceiling with shining eyes. "Finally, I don’t have to see her face again."
She kicked her feet, turning onto her side as she giggled. It was like she couldn’t believe her luck. "I almost can’t believe it, Mother. I keep thinking someone is going to come running in, telling me it was all a dream and that she’s still here, still walking around with that stupid, pitiful look on her face." Kendra’s lips curled in disgust before her giggling again. "But she’s not, is she?"
Carol sat in an armchair, with a glass of deep red wine in her manicured fingers. She hadn’t laughed along with her daughter, but her smirk was satisfied. She swirled the wine slowly, watching Kendra. As much as she reprimanded Kendra for how she acted, she loved her too much. Way too much.
"No," Carol said smoothly. "She’s not."
Kendra laughed loudly yet again, rolling onto her stomach, propping her chin on her hands. "Goddess, Cain must be losing his mind right now. Can you imagine?" She bit her lip, eyes glinting. "Hunting for her, searching like a madman, only to realize she’s never coming back."
Her voice turned sweeter, more breathless. "And then he’ll see me. Really see me, for the first time. And he’ll realize..." She trailed off, lost in her own fantasy. "He’ll realize I’m the one he should’ve chosen from the start."
Carol hummed, taking a sip from her glass. "Is that so?"
Kendra sighed, flipping onto her back again, staring up at the ceiling. "Mmm-hmm. Just imagine it, Mother. He’ll be furious, lost in his grief... and then he’ll turn to me. He’ll finally understand that I’m the only one who’s ever been there for him. The only one who has ever truly seen him. I’ve always been the one waiting. And when he does, I’ll be waiting for him too."