Page 98 of Darkest Deception

They all gasp, looking at each as if silently asking if they heard the same thing.

“You will regret disrespecting us, Ambrose.”

I huff a laugh at Gabriella’s offended tone. “Sure. There’s the door.” I point behind them, and they turn around and leave without another word.

I know they will strike back. They will do something. For now, I can’t do anything.

Running back up the stairs, I shake their memories that are fresh in my mind. My throat is parched. I should get some water, but just as I go to shut the door, a hand with sharp nails clamps on my arm, stopping me.

A hiss falls from my lips while pain sears through my shirt, the nails digging into my skin.

My mother.

A sneer is on her face, and the hallway lights casting a yellow shadow on the side of her face.

She doesn’t look like the mother I thought she was.

She looks different.

She looks manic, like a madwoman.

“How dare you turn away the Madden sisters? Do you know what you have just done?” Her low voice and the sharp sting travelling up my arm make my eyes water.

“Yes.” I grind my teeth.

She’s choosing them over me.

“I have arranged a marriage. Between you and the son of the tech giant, Eric Kallias. You know they had some conversations with your father in the past of an alleged alliance, and I am here to secure it and make it true. You will give up your shares in Glamorous and allow us to invest in this marriage.”

My whole world falls apart beneath my feet.

“And you will not, under any circumstance, ruin this for me. Understood?” She gets in my face, her voice raspy and empty.

Empty of emotions. Empty of her relationship to me as my mother. Empty. Empty. Empty.

Just like my father.

She is just like my father.

“Now go to your room because I don’t want to see your face.” She shoves me away from her, her nails scraping against my arm. Blood oozes from the deep scratch of her nails, and I lose my balance.

I see her back, walking away from me as my knee hits the floor, my head falling forward, hitting against the edge of a table, making white dots cover my vision.

I take in deep breaths, blinking away the dizziness, pain emanating from my head.

Placing my hand on my head, I look at it and see red.

Blood.

My breaths turn shallow, but I swallow thickly and get up, walking to my room with a dizzy vision.

As soon as the door shuts behind me, I drop to the floor.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

My heartbeat is so loud, my head lolls to the side, my vision turning black in spaces. Something trickles down my head.

I drop my head back and blink up at the empty ceiling, tears streaming down my face.

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