Chapter 25 Unforgettable
Harridan's Point of View
“You're really pathetic you know! You left me stranded at the restaurant, again!” Amber's loud voice echoed in the room when I entered, and I sighed, feeling frustrated. I had crept back in so she wouldn't notice and I wouldn't have to come up with a lie.
“Where were you all day?” She asked, slowly moving towards me. I shrugged my shoulders unbothered. I had just dealt with a major family issue on the phone, I certainly don't need her trouble.
“Let me guess, you were with Lydia, right?” She didn't allow me to answer before continuing. “Your family's stock just crashed, and it will keep going down until you realize your mistake,” she said, and turned to leave the room.
“Wait, what?” My eyes widened. Earlier today, my father had called me to tell me that he had lost millions of shares, and the company was in debt. I just didn't expect Amber to be the one pilling the strings.
“Amber, what the fuck?! You've put my family in debt. If you have a problem with me, deal with me. How does it concern my siblings and parents?” I growled, and the headache which I thought I had suppressed came back.
Amber looked unfazed, and she hissed. “My father is the one behind your family's loss, go and confront him….if you can,” she stopped at the door and turned to me. “Oh, and before I forget, my father wants us to begin our wedding preparation. Failure to comply will result in losing something more than money.”
She left the room, leaving me alone, and as the quietness settled in, I felt a strange sensation at the pit of my stomach. Fear clung onto me, and I collapsed on the bed, tired.
Marriage? Yes, I had signed up for this, but hearing it from Amber's mouth once again fucked up my brain.
I know how ruthless her father is. He once kicked his ten years old biological son out of his car because he forgot to greet him. I know everything, and if he's so mean to his own blood. What about me, a stranger? He will definitely kill me if he gets the chance. The only reason I'm alive is because Amber keeps her father in check, and if she ever gets tired of me, she can ask her father to erase my bloodline! Fuck, that can't happen.
My phone rang before I could run after her, and when I picked up, my father yelled at the top of his voice.
“What the hell are you doing? Do you really want your family to go down because of your stupidity?” He asked, and his tone irked me. I was passing through a difficult situation, the last thing I needed was someone else screaming at me and trying to tell me how to live my life.
“What are you talking about?” I asked calmly, assuring myself that losing my temper would cause more harm than good.
There was silence at the other end, and when my father spoke again, his voice sounded urgent. “We’ve been sent out of the house! My house! The house that has been in my family for generations!”
“What?” I froze, unsure of how to react. “Where are my sisters? Are they alright?” I asked the first question that came to my mind.
My father hissed, and his anger was back on top. “I just told you that our house has been seized, and the only question you can ask is about your sisters? Those stupid girls?” He asked with a menacing voice.
His words angered me, and I was unable to control myself. “News flash, old man! Those stupid girls are also your daughters, and you're certainly not the one to tell me how to react,” I replied, and my father gasped. This was the first time I'd spoken to him rudely, even I was surprised at my audacity. But it was necessary, if I keep tolerating his bad words, he'd never change his behavior.
“Are you finally passing through your rebellion phrase?” His voice came out as a threat.
“I'll deal with Amber and her family. Take care of my siblings. If a single hair drop from their head, I will fuck up your useless life!” I said, not as a threat but as a warning.
My father wanted to protest but before he could talk, I cut the call.
“Dimwit! Fool! Bastard!” I murmured under my breath, and suddenly held my head in pain. I managed to stagger to my room's cupboard, and I swallowed as much aspirin as I could find. The drug bottle was in the middle of the table, I had used it so many times that it was placed where I could easily find it. Yes, it's been months since I went for my last hospital check up, and the constant headache was a sign that I needed to visit my doctor. But I have other pressing family matters to attend to.
I tried calling Amber, but it keeps going to voicemail. Left with no other choice I called Justin, and surprisingly he picked up on the first ring.
“Why are you calling me?” He grumbled, his voice filled with suspicion and annoyance.
“I need your help,” I replied patiently, hoping he wouldn't cut the call.
Justin went silent for a while. “Leave Lydia alone and I will consider you.!”
I expected something like this from him, but hearing him say it hurt me. “Can we please leave Lydia out of this?” I asked gently.
“Do you need my help or not?” Justin replied, and I heard sounds, like he was planning to cut the call.
“Fine, I will leave her alone,” I said desperately. My family needed my help, I can't abandon them.
I could swear that Justin had a triumphant smirk on his face. He thinks he has won, and indeed he has.
“Good, you made the right decision. What do you need my help with?” He asked, and he genuinely had no idea about what his father was doing to me.
“My family's house and company. Get them to leave it alone.” I replied, and Justin scoffed.
“Isn’t Amber in charge of solving your problem? What happened?” He asked, purposefully teasing me.
“Are you interested or not?” I asked, not in the mood for a conversation.
Justin clinked his tongue. “Deal. But if you ever think of backstabbing me. I will destroy you as quickly as I helped you!”
“You're no longer my love rival?” He asked, and I nodded slowly.
“She's all yours, Justin.”