Dave’s voice was calm, teasing almost, when he finally responded on the other end of the line.
“So, what changed your mind? The last time we spoke, you swore you’d rather die than marry your enemy.”
A bitter laugh slipped out of me. “Well, Tobias already wanted me dead. So tell me, Dave—doesn’t that make you the better option?”
For a moment, there was silence. Then Dave chuckled darkly. “So I’m just an option now? A second choice because the great Tobias failed you?”
I clenched the phone tighter. “Fine. If you don’t want me, then forget I even called. I’ll figure it out myself.”
“Carmela,” his voice softened, a sigh following. “I didn’t say I don’t want you. I’ve always wanted you. But if we do this… there’s a condition.”
My breath caught. “What condition?”
“You would never leave my side again,” Dave said firmly. “No matter what happens, no matter who comes between us, I won’t allow you to walk away from me. If you want this marriage, then that’s the price. I will never let you go.”
Something heavy pressed against my chest. Was it fear? Relief? I didn’t know anymore. My lips trembled, but I forced the words out. “Then let’s plan the wedding.”
He exhaled sharply, almost in disbelief. “Just like that?”
“No.” My voice shook, but I steadied it. “There’s one more thing. I want them to suffer losing me. All of them. So can you fake my death in five days?”
There was a pause, then Dave’s low, dangerous chuckle. “Consider it done.”
I dropped the phone, my hands trembling. I never thought I would even reach this point. But this is better than staying with someone who’d been betraying me since I don’t know!
For the rest of the day, I waited. Waited for someone—anyone—to call, to check on me. To ask where I was, why I hadn’t come home. But no one did. Not Tobias. Not Thomas. Not Paul.
By evening, I couldn’t take it anymore. I dragged my weak body out of the hospital and went home.
The sight that greeted me made my stomach twist. The entire house reeked of alcohol and cigarette smoke, remnants of a party still scattered everywhere—confetti on the floor, empty bottles on the table, laughter etched into the walls as if grief had no place here.
I climbed the stairs slowly, dragging my bag behind me, but froze when I saw her.
Janine.
Her eyes went wide, her face paling as if she had seen a ghost. She stumbled back, clutching her chest. “No… no, she’s here! She might kill me!”
Before I could even speak, Thomas and Paul rushed out.
“And why would she?” Thomas asked, glaring at me.
Both their gazes fell on me, sharp and accusing.
“Where have you been?” Paul demanded. “It’s been days! You missed the welcome party. Janine is back, and you weren’t here to support her.”
My throat tightened. “Welcome party? After everything she’s done? You said you’d never forgive her—you said she was the reason for Dad’s death!”
The words barely left my lips before Thomas’s hand struck across my face, the slap ringing loud in the hallway. My cheek burned, tears stung my eyes.
“Don’t you dare say that!” Thomas snarled. “Janine already told us everything. It was you. You lured her to that man, the scammer. You introduced him. You made sure she took the blame so you’d look clean.”
My heart stopped. “What? That’s not true! Yes, I knew him—but only because Janine begged me to introduce her. She liked him, Thomas! She was the one chasing after him, not me. I never had anything to do with him outside of that one introduction. If she got herself tangled in his schemes, that was her choice, not mine!”
But Thomas’s glare only hardened, his hand curling into a fist at his side.
“You expect us to believe that?” Paul snapped. “After all this time, you’re still lying to our faces?”
I shook my head desperately. “I’m not lying! I never even got close to him. I warned her, I told her it wasn’t a good idea—but she didn’t listen. And now you’re telling me it’s my fault?”
Janine sniffled, lowering her gaze, playing the victim. “Stop… please. I don’t want us to fight anymore. This is why I never came back. I didn’t want to cause problems.”
Paul’s glare silenced me. “Enough, Carmela. We’ve heard enough of your lies. You’ve deceived us for years.”
And then Janine, the snake, lowered her gaze and whispered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come back if it would only make us fight. Please, I don’t want us to hate each other.”
“Fight?” Tobias’s voice cut in as he walked down the stairs. He crossed his arms, eyes cold as stone. “We’re not fighting, Janine. We’re just making things straight. That’s why Carmela should apologize and hand over her inheritance. It belongs to you. You deserve it more than she does.”
I shook my head furiously. “No! Father gave it to me because he knew I was the only one who could be trusted in this family!”
Paul’s hand lashed out, striking me across the other cheek this time. “Shut up! You don’t deserve anything, Carmela. Not after what you did.”
My body trembled, rage coursing through me like fire. My vision blurred with tears but I refused to let them see me break. “I’m truly disappointed in all of you,” I whispered, voice cracking. “I don’t have a family anymore.”
I ran to my room, slamming the door shut behind me. My hands shook as I threw clothes into a bag, stuffing in whatever I could carry. Each fold of fabric was fueled by my fury, my heartbreak.
The door creaked open behind me. Tobias.
He stepped inside, his expression softened, pretending to care as he wrapped his arms around me. “Hey… I’m sorry, okay? Please, just listen. I’m only trying to—”
I shoved him away, the force of my push stronger than I thought possible. My hand reached for the plastic ring on my finger—the $5 ring he once gave me as a promise of forever. With a bitter laugh, I ripped it off and threw it at his chest.
“Leave me alone!” I spat. “You can keep your lies, Tobias. I don’t need them anymore.”
