Chapter 59: Chapter fifty nine

Arielle

If someone had told me before I got diagnosed that I'll move out of my house one day, I would have called them crazy. I loved my life.

Did I have a shitty absent father? Yes. But I had everything else I could ever want. A hot boyfriend, a loving mother, and a huge fan club. Until everything turned upside down.

I didn't know when exactly I stopped wishing for my father's love and started hating him instead. Or the day I started to dread entering my own house.

I hid behind the tree and stared at the huge mansion that had once being my home. It looked the same as when we left few months ago, but it felt totally different.

Even from a distance, it felt empty. Soulless. It felt like just another big house of a politician, not the home where I learned how to ride bike as a kid, or had sleepovers with Natalie and Daniel when we were kids.

I had so many memories here. Good and bad ones. But the bad seem to outweigh the good. When I look at this house, I no longer saw Natalie and I reading romance books into late hours.

All I see is the night of the storm, my mum's screams and the deranged look in my father's eyes, my mother's silent sobs and endurance for years. I had to go in there and put an end to it.

It would have been nice to have Drayton here.

I halted in my steps and wondered where the hell the thought came from. Since when did I wish for Drayton King to help me through difficult conversations?

Somehow, he'd turned into an emotional crutch for me and I hadn't even realized it until he wasn't there.

I contemplated calling him but ended up deciding against it. This was a bridge I had to cross alone. I have to put Charles McAlister behind me for good.

The security guard didn't stop me from entering nor did he ask questions. He simply muttered a ‘welcome home’ and gestured for me to come in.

I had no doubt that my father hadn't restricted me from entering because he believed I would cave and move back in. He was sorely mistaken.

I doubted he knew what I had been up to since he froze my accounts. He must have believed I would soon run out of money.

I caught a glimpse of his favorite car in the parking lot. He was definitely at home. I tried not to let my gaze linger on the pink Lamborghini. The best friend he took from me.

I pushed open the huge double doors and walked in. The living room was empty. It wasn't unusual. Most of the domestic staffs would have retired to their quarters by this time. My father would be in his room or the study. I decided to check the latter first.

As I approached my father's study, I began hearing coming from inside. I couldn't make out what they were saying clearly but the voices were familiar. That feminine laugh. It sounded like –

No! It can't be. Right?

But as I pushed the door opened, I was met with a scene straight out of a nightmare. Because sitting on my father's desk with her legs wrapped tightly around him was none other than Aunt Marietta, Natalie's mother.

“What the fuck?!” I screamed in horror. .

My mouth fell open and I stared at them in complete shock. My brain went blank for a few seconds, unable to process what I just saw. The two of them quickly disengaged from each other and scrambled away.

“Hey, Arielle. What's up?” Marietta said and my brain exploded.

“ ‘What's up?’ Are you fucking with me right now? You're having sex with my dad?!” I yelled. Even saying it out loud sounds unbelievable.

“No no, that's not what we were doing. He was just…uhm… we were discussing business and he… he was helping me adjust my necklace.” She stuttered.

“Oh yeah? Which one? The one attached to your fucking cunt? I can't believe you. The older brother dies so you screw the younger one.” I spat.

“Watch your tongue, princess.” The piece-of-shit who fathered me groaned. He had the nerve to look annoyed.

“Don't you dare call me that, you disgusting son of a bitch!” I yelled.

Charles eyes glazed with anger and his jaws flexed, but he wisely kept his mouth shut. He didn't even have the decency to look embarrassed about what I just caught him doing.

What in the world have I done to be cursed with a father like him?

My mouth hung open as my gaze darted between the both of them. I didn't know whether to be angry at them or sad about the level of betrayal. The two of them destroyed two families.

“You have a daughter and a husband. You have a whole family waiting for you to come home, yet you're having an affair with your ex-husband’s brother. Are you not ashamed of yourself?” I tried to keep my voice from breaking as I spoke.

I'd never really liked my aunt. I've sat with her for many family dinners and attended events with her, but we never formed a bond. I always thought she was fake. But I would've never thought she was capable of something so despicable.

“Well, this wasn't exactly surprising.” I turned to my father who was putting his shirt back on.

“I suspected you were cheating on my mother. I just thought you had more taste than this.”

I watched from the corner of my eyes as Marietta's face turned red with fury but I didn't care. She deserved every insult I threw at her.

“Your mother and I are separated. I can spend time with whoever I want.” Charles said.

“And yet you still refused to sign the divorce papers.” I smacked my tongue. “If you're so eager to enjoy plastic face over here, why don't you just sign the divorce papers and leave us the hell alone?”

“She's my wife. I decide when I want to let her go. There's nothing you or anyone can say to make me sign those papers.” He seethed.

“She was never your wife. She wasn't even a person to you. Just like I wasn't too. We were just objects you wanted to possess and control. Because you need something to feed your sadistic ego. You're a coward.”

I didn't even see him coming with how fast he moved. The next thing I felt was a sharp pain on my cheek and a gasp from Marietta.

“You don't talk to me like that. I'm your father.” He thundered.

A single tear dropped from my eye but I wiped it away. I didn't know if it was because of the slap or the sense of betrayal I felt that moment. This was the first time that my father raised his hand on me.

Aside from the day he smashed my head against the stairs banister, he had never physically hurt me before. I guess I've never provoked him like this either.

I tilted my head back and laughed. I ignored the dampness on my cheeks, the tears I couldn't stop from falling.

“You know what? You two deserve each other. My mum can definitely do better than your sorry ass. And your daughter deserves a better mother, Marietta.” I wiped away the tears blurring my vision and hardened my gaze.

“Here's what's gonna happen. You're gonna call my mum's attorney and tell her that you're ready to sign the divorce papers. When it's finalized, we're going to go our separate ways, and I'll do it with pleasure.” I sneered.

“And if I don't do?” He asked, his tone laced with amusement.

I let out a humorless laugh.

“I know how much you care about your public image. I happen to have over two million loyal followers who will tear you apart if I reveal what I just witnessed. Imagine the headlines: ‘Charles McAlister caught cheating on his wife with his deceased brother's wife'. I wonder how many views that would get in 24 hours. Especially with the elections so close.”

The amusement had drained from his face and I couldn't be more pleased. I smirked as he boiled with rage.

“And if you want to call me bluff, go ahead. But I think you know what McAlisters are capable of when we're pissed off. I've had to work my butt off to earn money after you froze my accounts so I am beyond pissed. Don't think I would hesitate to use this ammo against you.”

I knew I had gotten to him judging by how his nostrils flared and his tightly clenched fist. Marietta was pleading with her eyes. She had a lot to lose if I ever decide to make that post. Her marriage, her daughter who already didn't like her. I doubted Marietta ever cared about Natalie. Just like my father never cared about me.

“If this gets out and sabotage the elections, I'll make your mother pay.” He threatened.

Typical of him to be worried about the election instead of the family he was about to lose.

“I don't think you're in any position to make threats. I hold all the cards here, Charles. One post and you can say bye bye to that senator post.” I smirked.

There was no way he could refuse my demands. He cared about his reputation a lot.

“And I'm taking my car. Don't even try to stop me.” I walked out before either of them could say anything.

I blinked back the tears that burned at the corner of my eyes. I wasn't going to shed a single tear for them, they didn't deserve it.

But as I drove out of the place I'd once called my home, I couldn't hold back the tears anymore no matter how hard I tried.