Page 80 of Heiress of Fire

“No, Father, I was the one who asked her to show me,” Emmy said.

“Don’t defend her!” Nico yelled. Emmy flinched under his resounding voice. Anger already began to gurgle inside Davina as she viewed the way Emmy trembled under her father’s hostile tone.

“You know what, Mae? You’re right. I’m going to teach this dirtbag a lesson.”

A dirtbag? That’s what she was now?

Davina clenched her jaw while shaking her head. She was done being the good and quiet daughter they forced her to be. They would get the dirtbag they believed she was. Nico strode to Davina in just a few steps with a deep scowl on his face. Davina immediately pushed Emmy into Genevieve’s arms.

She was not willing to stay quiet that day, she was determined to fight back, but the girls shouldn’t be around if they saw that side of her.

“Girls, go to your room! Go!” Davina yelled at her sisters.

Feet shuffled into the living room.

“Father?” Micah asked as Nico grabbed Davina by her collar.

“Micah, take the girls!” Davina shouted aggressively. “Now!”

Micah pulled Emmy and Genevieve as they fought against his grip. Micah picked them up, shoving them into his room and shutting the door behind him. Davina returned her glare to Nico.

His hot breath reached her cheeks, she would have gagged at the smell, but she was too angry to even take it into account.

“What are you gonna do now, huh? Are you going to try to drown me again? Why don’t you try something new like throwing me into an ice volcano? What will it be this time, father?” Davina joked.

Nico raised his fist. She remained with her eyes wide open, her stare daring him to connect his fist to her face. But the pain never came. She didn’t feel a sting on her cheek or her lips. Davina scoffed as a smirk crept onto her lips. “Do it, I dare you.”

“You’re crazy,” Nico whispered.

“Oh, but father, the children are only a reflection of the parents,” Davina taunted before she spat at his face. Nico pushed her away as she chuckled.

“Davina! That is no way to treat your father!” Mae yelled while she wiped the saliva off of Nico’s face.

“He’s not my father. He’s the excuse of a father that you chose for me.”

“Is this how I get treated after everything I’ve done for you? After putting you above my own kids?” Nico shouted.

“Would you have done the same to Genevieve or Emmy? Would you try to drown them as you have with me?” Davina yelled.

Nico retracted into Mae’s arms. Because he knew she was right. She was treated differently because she was the one born out of wedlock. Perhaps she was even treated differently because she did look like her father.

“Where did I go wrong with you, Davina?” Mae asked.

“The moment you married him,” she replied. “You said that I needed to remember everything that you’ve done for me. That I needed to be reminded, but I know that the one who needs this the most is you. Because I will never suffer a greater betrayal as deep as yours, mother.”

Davina’s chest heaved. Her fingers trembled with anger and a mixture of fear.

“Do you want to know what I remember? I remember being six years old, you had a belly, you were pregnant with Micah and you two had just fought. Your arms and face were bruised but as he slammed the front door, you helped me put on my shoes and we both ran after him. As we ran for him, you tripped and fell. I helped you sit up and I cleaned your wounds. Then when I was eight, I had to find a way to make it to Genevieve’s crib as you two fought in front of her so I could take her to my room because she was crying hysterically. When I was thirteen, and Emmy was two, I had to push against my door so you and Nico wouldn’t come in. Because the kids were scared, and they didn’t want to speak to you yet. I remember they were shaking with fear and tears were streaking down their faces. And then you cut me open with your words, all because I chose to protect their peace above your pride. Whenever he would leave, I would cook and clean and comfort you and the kids.

“And whenever he would come back, you would forget all about me. So, the thing is, Mother, I have chosen you my entire life and you have never chosen me. Why have you gifted me nothing but misery and betrayal? Help me understand why you decided to conceive me if you did not plan a happy life for me. I was only a kid. A child. And you stole that away from me.”

“Davina…” Her mother began, taking small steps toward her with glossy eyes.

“She is manipulating you, Mae, do not listen to her,” Nico argued, grabbing Mae’s shoulder.

Remorse struck her mother’s expression, and Mae closed her eyes. Nico’s fingers grew white when he tightened his grip on her mother’s shoulder. Davina thought about pushing him away and cursing him for all those years of abuse that he gifted to her.

But Mae looked at Davina and then at Nico as if she were debating which side to choose. For the first time in a long time, Davina had hoped that her mother would prove her wrong, for once.

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