Page 19 of Save Me

It has been three long days since I’ve been back, and not one of them has bothered to contact me. Now I’mstanding here, ready to confront them and show them that I am alive—no thanks to them.

What I am looking forward to the most is the look on my father’s face when he realizes his plan didn’t work out the way he hoped.

“You ready, little star?” Argent’s low voice breaks through my thoughts, sending shivers down my spine. I gaze up at him, my eyes locking with his, and I nod, managing a faint smile to reassure him before finally rapping my knuckles against the front door.

The door swings open, and my mother’s eyes widen in surprise as she takes in my disheveled appearance. “Starlet—thank goodness you’re safe,” she exclaims, pulling me into a tight hug. But all I want to do is push her away, scream at her—anything to express my pent-up frustration.

“Please come in—oh, I know you,” she states, pointing towards Argent. Confusion clouds my mind as I furrow my brows, my gaze darting between the two of them. “You were at the memorial,” she adds, and I raise an eyebrow.

Memorial?

Are you kidding me?

Shaking my head in disbelief, the sound of loud footsteps suddenly captures my attention. I spin around, my heart skipping a beat as I lock eyes with my father descending the stairs. He freezes in his tracks, his face turning pale as if he’s seen a ghost.

“We’re so happy that you’re safe, darling,” he stammers, but I can see right through his facade. His words ring hollow and his complexion betrays his guilt. “I doubt that,” I retort coldly, my voice steady and unwavering as I fix my gaze upon him. The intensity of my stare causes his face to fall, and he struggles to find his words.

“I-I don’t know what Zavier o-or that little boyfriend of yours told you but—” he starts to say, but I cut him off, “Save it.” Not interested in his excuses.

Turning my back on him, my eyes find Argent, and I can see that he’s been watching me intently throughout the entire exchange.

“Oh my gosh—Starlet!” A high-pitched voice cuts through the silence as my sister runs over to me and envelopes me in a hug. She pulls away and when her eyes land on Argent, I don’t miss the way her cheeks flush.

What the fuck is going on?

Confusion and disgust twist my face into a scrunched-up expression that I can’t control. “Hey, what are you doing here?” She turns her full attention to him.

“He’s here with me.” Before Argent can even reply, I snap, unable to contain myself any longer.

What the hell happened since I was gone? I was missing for more than a year and my family is more interested in Argent being here than me. It's fucking unbelievable.

“Okay, what is going on? What is this memorial you mentioned, Mother?” My anger seethes through my words as my mother emerges from the kitchen, holding drinks in her hands. The clinking of glasses fills the air as she approaches us.

“Honey, it’s been a year. We thought you were gone and wanted to show you some respect as well as get some closure and make peace with all the heartache we've been through,” she confesses, her voice tinged with regret. My frustration reaches its peak, and I feel like I might burst a blood vessel at any moment.

“So, you just gave up? I prayed every fucking night, hoping someone would find me—anybody!” I yell, causing my mother to flinch. She stands there, speechless, her eyes wide with shock.

Regret washes over me, realizing that this confrontation was a mistake. I shouldn’t have bothered coming here. Knowing what I do about my mother and especially my father, it shouldn’t have hurt me as much as it does to know that they easily gave up on finding me.

I guess blood isn't always thicker than water.

Turning towards Argent, my anger fueling my actions, I see my sister reaching out to touch his arm. Ignoring her, he stands with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on me. But when she rubs her hand over his shoulder, something inside me snaps.

“She’s going through a rough time, you should keep an eye on her—” she tries to say, but losing control, I grab her by the hair and forcefully pull her towards me. At that moment, I can feel the strain and resistance of her hair against my grip. With my face only inches away from hers, my heart pounds in my chest with anger.

I look into her widened eyes filled with disbelief and fear, my voice dripping with venom. “If you ever touch him again, you will be picking up your fingers from the floor,” I snarl through gritted teeth before releasing her.

As I glance at Argent, a smirk tugs at the corners of his lips, sending a surge of electrifying energy through my body, settling in the sensitive area between my legs.

Tearing my eyes away, I gaze at my family with disappointment before turning and making my way towards the door.

As we make our way home, the car glides silently, the soft hum of the engine filling the air. I want to say something, but I’m not sure where to start.

“I guess you know about your father,” Argent finally speaks, shattering the quietness. Curious, I turn my body slightly to face him. “Yes. How do you know?” I inquire, meeting his gaze.

“Saw an email. Then threatened him to tell me where Zavier was. And, well, you know the rest,” he confesses, a faint smile dancing on his lips.

God, I forgot how gorgeous he is.

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