After all the partying, it was time for me to go home. I know they said I could stay as long as I wanted to but I had already stayed over three days in a row, and I didn't want to appear as though I came from a troubled home. If they got that impression, then I'll be hounded to give them a rundown of my life.
I don't ever want anyone to know about my failure of a family.
So I said my goodbyes to the Santiago's, completely ignoring Matteo, and made my way to the car. Throughout the drive and as I got closer to my house, I could feel the gloom coming over me. It's like the atmosphere surrounding the house is charged with negative energy and the second you step into space, you get charged with negative energy too.
I parked and sat in my car for a considerable amount of time, I wanted to hold on to the last vestiges of happiness in me before it all went away, I looked at the time, 10:24 pm. I sighed and got out of the car, pulling my shopping bags from earlier with me.
I stepped into the house and as usual, the 'panel' sat patiently awaiting my arrival. The plan was to walk past them like I hadn't seen them so without as much as a 'hello' I began my journey to my room. But of course, it was cut short.
"Amanda?"
I sighed and turned around slowly.
"What is it now Henry?"
"We wanted to talk to you."
I noticed how he emphasized the 'we'. I looked around the room and did a once over of the occupants to read their body language. Tim sat in a corner with a smug smirk on his face. Ashley kept her face down and Henry looked like he's got a lamb stuck in his throat.
"About what?"
He remained silent for a few minutes. One thing about me?
I'm fucking impatient!!!
"Hurry it the fuck up, Henry!!!"
"I'm giving your mother's house in England to Ashley. We want to turn it into a vacation home."
I froze for a second and began to laugh like a maniac but then Timmy just had to rain on my parade.
"And then the house would be passed down to me as my inheritance. Now let me see you laugh at that!"
I looked at Ashley and shook my head at her. This woman was pathetic.
"You keep racking up your offenses Ashley. You know you're gonna cash them in right?"
I looked at Timmy and laughed again. These guys were honest to goodness fools if they thought this would go down without a fight.
"Henry, do you honestly think I'd let you gift my mother's house to your mistress?"
He shrugged. He just shrugged.
These guys were not taking me seriously!
"I wasn't expecting you to like the idea..."
"Good. So you know I'm gonna fight it. I'm turning eighteen in two weeks, I'd be able to control my inheritance from Mom. Including my trust fund."
"You can try but there's nothing you can do. You can't exactly prove it's yours, there's no will. It was word of mouth. And whoever has the deed has the house, which I do."
I nodded slowly.
"Okay then. Game on."
I tried my best to walk to my room without stomping my feet, I didn't want them to know they got to me. There was no way I was letting them sell my mother's house.
I would be dead before it happens. She can't win. I can't let her win.
Ashley can't win!!!
I flopped down on my bed not bothering to take my clothes or shoes off and let the tears flow. I haven't done that in a while, I knew I had to be strong and all but sometimes you just have to let it all out.
"Mom, why did you have to go, why didn't you hang on a little longer?"