CHAPTER 080

CHAPTER 080
She paused, brushing an invisible speck of dust from her sleeve. “For years, I continued to drug your father, making him do whatever I wanted, but he still refused to transfer his wealth to me. I thought getting pregnant would change things, but it didn’t. He loved Dean, but apparently not enough. So I decided to wait and enjoy his wealth until he reached his breaking point, which happened two days ago when he attacked you. I gave him an overdose, and he was completely high. If I hadn’t stopped him, he would have killed you, but I needed you alive. At first, I intended to get your signature and disappear, but then you killed my son, and I couldn’t let you walk away freely.” She smiled, and the sight made my stomach turn.

“But before that, I decided to take away the person you loved most: Sean. Trust me, he wouldn’t have left if Dan hadn’t had his daughter. I suppose he needed to get her away from us, even if it meant leaving his lover behind. And if you must know, I caused your accident.”

My body stiffened. She had said a lot, but her last words dropped like a devastating bomb.

“Because I knew that somehow, your stubborn self would try to leave the house, and you would need a car to do it. I had everything planned, but sadly, you survived.”

The forest suddenly felt colder. “Why wait two years for this?” I asked quietly after she finished.

“I was having fun with you. I realized it would be boring if I ended everything too quickly. I wanted you to suffer from your illness, though that part wasn’t exactly in my plans.” She shrugged and then stepped even closer. “But I suppose you remember everything now. Are you angry at Sean for choosing his daughter over you? Are you angry that he never told you he had a daughter? To him, you were nothing but a plaything. Something he used and dumped.”

I should be affected by her words, but for someone, I felt numb. In fact, I didn't know what to feel. I shook my head and said. “This is ridiculous. You spent more than twenty years planning something you could have had the minute my mother died. You aren’t much of a villainess.” I let out a bitter laugh. “You’re just plain stupid.”

The glint in her eyes vanished for a moment. “Not really, Tristan. Because somehow, I loved your father and wanted to be with him.” Her expression softened for the first time. “But I loved his wealth more.”

My jaw tightened. “What have you done to my father?”

She shrugged. “Nothing much, other than making him hate you over the years. And, oh, I have him locked away in the basement, drowning in guilt because he thinks he killed you, and he believes whatever I want him to believe,” she chuckles darkly. “Your father is simply crazy, and his obsession with Sean was what I used to my advantage. I made him believe Sean loved him and was only using you to get close to him. Your father was foolish even without the pills, the drugs, and the alcohol.”

My eyes slowly drifted downward to the papers in her hand. I was tired. I just wanted everything to be over. Would I die? I had no idea, but I looked forward to the end of this drama. “What happens to me after I sign those papers?”

“Simple. I kill you.” She said it so casually, as though we were discussing the weather and not my death. She tsked and shook her head in disappointment. “I don’t know what any of you saw in Sean. Your father wanted HIM; even Dean wanted him. And now that you have your memories back, I believe you’ll go looking for him. I can’t allow that. If my son couldn’t be happy with the man he loved, then over my dead body would you achieve it.” She held the papers out to me once more. “Sign, and let’s get this over with. I still need to kill your father too. He’s of no use to me anymore.”

I scoffed. “What makes you think I’ll sign those stupid papers only for you to kill me afterward? I’d rather die than give you my signature.”

She smirked, the glint in her eyes darkening. “So be it, then.”

I watched as Stella handed her a pistol. My breathing hitched as she raised the gun and pointed it directly at my face. “If I can’t get the money, at least I avenged my son.”

“Do it, then!” I challenged, ignoring the way my heart hammered wildly against my chest. “What are you waiting for?”

At that moment, death seemed far better than continuing to listen to this woman. She disgusted me.

She scoffed. “Send my regards to your mother.”

My eyes shifted toward Stella, and I watched her blue eyes sparkle with delight. Both sisters were insane. “Do it!” I snapped. “What are you waiting for, Benita?”

And then—

“THIS IS THE POLICE! YOU ARE SURROUNDED!”

My head jerked upward at the deafening sound of a helicopter hovering above us. It was followed by hurried footsteps crashing through the forest and the crackling of branches beneath heavy boots. Within seconds, officers emerged from between the trees, guns aimed squarely at the two sisters.

“Ugh!” Stella groaned dramatically. “Not again. I told you to kill him faster, but you freaking refused. Look at this mess. I just got out of that place, and now I’m going back!”

“Put down the weapon and raise your hands where we can see them!”

I stared at my stepmother, who had the gun still pointed at my face. Her eyes blazed with fury as her hand began to tremble. My own green eyes locked onto her blue ones, refusing to look away, and for a moment, neither of us moved. Then, slowly, her lips curled into a smirk. My eyes widened.

Instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut as she pulled the trigger, and a deafening bang echoed through the forest.

BANG!

Was I dead? The question rang in my head, and I expected pain, but there was nothing. Slowly, I forced my eyes open, bracing myself for pain that never came.

Benita was still standing in front of me, but a dark red stain had begun spreading across her chest. She looked down at the blood in shock, staggering slightly, yet somehow, she still managed to lift the gun again.

Another gunshot rang out, and this time, the bullet tore through her skull. Warm blood splattered across my face, and she collapsed to the ground before me with a thud.

For a few seconds, I could do nothing but stare, and then another figure stepped into view, blocking out the chaos around us. My eyes widened when I lifted my head. “Sean?”

A familiar smile tugged at his lips. “Long time, Kitten.”