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She reaches out towards Tiffany, who hands her something. She turns back to me with a wicked gleam in her eye. “You know, you trust too easily. People will betray you for a king and queen in a heartbeat. I mean shit, you trusted the devils themselves. And thanks to them, I think I finally have something that will make you turn and never come back.”
Thanks to them? The kings?No.
Something clicks and a wall gets illuminated by a white square. Everyone turns to stare at what’s displayed on it. A picture of my family is there. My heart clenches and my stomach drops. My mom, my dad, and me. All happy, smiling for the camera.
I’m in a room full of people, but seeing them on that way before me, knowing they’re gone … I’m no one. My chest tightens, and I push the lump in my throat down.
“What are you doing? Where did you get this?” I yell. Why are the chaperones not stopping this? They are standing there, watching this happen. No one is putting a stop to this.
She clears her throat, and her eyes narrow. Her lips curl up. “For those of you who didn’t know, Phoenix’s dad killed himself. Drove right off the cliff. Bam! Right into the water. Couldn’t stand to be around the lie of a daughter anymore and his whore of a wife.” I growl and my fists tighten. “But that’s not all. Do you know he wasn’t alone that night?”
My breathing stops.What?
No, my dad was alone. He was coming home from work. It was an accident. I know he would never leave us. He wouldn’t kill himself. It was an accident. And I know he was by himself. They said he was the only person in the car …
“Beverly Emerson was a passenger in his car that night. She was also killed when Phoenix’s dad drove over the cliff. How selfish is it to take not only your life, but the life of someone else’s,” she tsks.
My mind starts to turn. Emerson. Beverly Emerson. Oh my God. Daxon Emerson.No, no, no, no.
“Oh, look at those wheels turning. That’s right, Phoenix. Your dad killed Daxon’s mom.” She laughs like a hyena. “You should see the look on your face. You had no idea, did you? Aw. Just so innocent. And yet your dad isn’t. Well, neither is your whore of a mother.”
My arms wrap around my stomach, and I lean against the table nearest to me. I try to take deep breaths, but I feel like my lungs aren’t working. I can’t breathe. I squeeze my eyes shut and then open them.
I look up at Liz, who has now stepped away from me, staring at me with wide eyes. No, don’t. Please. I shake my head and try to speak, but my mouth has gone dry, and I can’t find the words. How is any of this happening?
My dad killed Daxon’s mom. His mother. There’s an ache inside of me.
“You know, I wish it stopped there.” Bianca points back to the wall, where a picture of my mother’s scene is displayed for everyone to see. And I suddenly feel like I’m stepping into that bathroom all over again. How did she get this photo?
Her body lifeless. Her blue lips. The water stained red. Her wet, matted hair. Those haunted eyes, the fear and acceptance in those eyes for what she did. I can smell the death as I sit here. She’s gone.
“No!” I cry out. Tears cascade from my eyes. “Stop it! Please!” My voice trails off as I plead for her to put an end to this. I’ll go. I’ll leave.
You won.
“Your mother was so distraught that she killed herself too! You weren’t even good enough for her to stick around for. Your dad, your mom, no one wanted you. From what I hear, neither does your aunt. Isn’t that why she shipped you here? Because she wants nothing to do with you? That’s why it’s cute that you think you had our men. But they want nothing to do with you either.” She giggles. “But that’s not even the best part.”
I can’t even see anymore. My vision is blurred with my tears. I’m choking back the vomit I can taste in my mouth as I clutch my stomach.
“Do you know why your mother killed herself? Do you know why your dad cheated on your mother? Oh, yeah, Daxon’s mom and your dad, they were having an affair. Here’s the kicker, and folks, you’ll definitely want to get this on camera.”
Please make this stop. Please. Why is no one stopping this?I’ll go. Please stop, I silently beg to those around me who are now just watching me and waiting for whatever shoe to drop.
“Your mother killed herself not because the affair your dad was having, but because he found out you were not his daughter.”
Everything stops. The world, time, my breathing. My legs buckle under me and my knees hit the ground. Someone help me.
“Someone, please stop this!” I croak out. But no one does.
I turn to her and clench my fists. “You’re lying. You’re a fucking liar!” I scream.
“Oh, I wish I was. But your daddy isn’t your daddy. Your mother was a whore just like you! Like mother, like daughter! I wonder how many dicks she took at once?”
People around me start to laugh and chatter.
“No! None of that is true!” I snarl back, my fists curling at my sides.
She points to the wall, and I see a birth certificate on it. Where did she get this? My breath catches … My box. My head spins to her, and she nods. How did she get a copy?