Page 56 of Poison Vows

“How old are you, acting like a sophomore having an identity crisis with zits all over your face!”

“Shut up!” she cries, palming her face in a rush. “Used trash like you has no rights to insult me!”

Used trash… it’s like rape is nothing to her.

She’s obviously the type where as long as the vile horror is not happening to her, she doesn’t give a damn.

I feel nauseous and weak.

“You must be the most obnoxious person I’ve ever met,” I state, fighting not to slap her. “Just because you didn’t get your way, you did this to me?”

For a moment, she looks surprised at the fact that I just exposed her plans and thoughts, but after a few seconds, her expression dissolves back into calm impassiveness.

“That’s right. You don’t deserve to be the queen of the Easton Family! I do!” she snaps. “At first, the contract marriage was going to be with some insignificant member of the Easton Family, that’s your level! Who would’ve thought that everything changed after that old man saw you? He even gaveyouthe power to pick the next head? It can’t be you! You’re just a reserve that no one wants!”

Twenty-four hours ago, those very words would’ve broken me so bad that I’d need days under the covers of my bed, sobbing.

But that girl is gone, thank God.

“The queen of the Easton Family?” I throw my head back and laugh. “And how exactly are you going to do that? Throw a tantrum? Send those pictures to the tabloids to smear my name in the papers and online blogs to make the Eastons change their mind? That’s your plan?”

I make sure to exaggerate the ridicule in my voice as much as possible.

“W-well, yes!” she stutters at first, then shouts. “Then everyone will know that you’re nothing but dirty, loose, used trash from the wrong side of town!”

I shake my head at her pathetic plan. “Do your parents know you’re this shallow and stupid?”

“What? Who are you calling shallow?” she screeches.

For a moment, I can’t believe this girl is actually my so-called twin sister.

Her emotional intelligence is giving preteen while her thought process is barely above that of a spoiled middle schooler.

“Since you don’t know anything, allow me, your dearest long-lost sister, to teach you some things.” I step forward, holding her gaze. “One, that smear campaign thing you’re planning, it won’t go the way you think. As a matter of fact, it’ll destroy your dearest father’s political career straight out, and guess who will bear the brunt of that devastating blow? Here’s a hint. It won’t be me, an insignificant, unwanted girl.”

Melissa’s eyes widen with fear before they narrow with suspicion.

“You’re ly?—"

“And second,” I go on, cutting her off. “I’ll make sure to press criminal charges against you!”

Now this is what makes her freeze in place like a freaking deer in the headlights. “What?”

“Oh, you didn’t think about that part, huh?” I taunt, stepping even closer until we’re just mere inches apart. “This great state of New York has a little something called accomplice liability under the New York State Penal Law. I’m sure you know nothing about it, since you’re dull and self-involved, so, to be clear, I’m going to make sure you’re thrown in prison together with Jackson for the rest of your life!”

Of course, I don’t tell her that Jackson is already dead and is right now somewhere pushing up daisies or burnt to ashes, who knows how Mafia people dispose of bodies these days?

“What? You’re lying!” Melissa’s face blanches into fear and uncertainty. “You don’t have proof.”

“Oh no, baby girl, we have all the proof in the world!” I cheer sarcastically. “Thanks to your wretched, rotten heart and your equally perverted friend, you have unwittingly stored all the evidence needed to prove your cooperation with that bastard! You even sent me some just an hour ago!”

“No!”

I smile cynically. “The plans you made together with that asshole, the intent to rape, molest, and exploit me, how far it went and everything you planned has all been recorded by you!”

At some point, I raised my voice at her so when I stop talking, I hear the echo of my anger bouncing off the walls.

I’m so livid and hurt by what Melissa did that I can’t even stay calm anymore.

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