32

Raven's perspective:

"If he's not here in ten minutes, I'm leaving," I muttered, casting an irritated glance at my watch.

Adam, the genius (note my sarcasm), had the brilliant idea to meet at a cafe. He had some documents he needed to hand over to me, and true to his responsible nature, he refused to show up.

I pondered various reasons to put him six feet under the ground when I saw him approach. His eyes widened upon seeing me. Yes, be intimidated, you pig. You better be on your best behavior today; I've already hit my cranky quota for the day. It would take only a tiny spark for me to blow up like a volcano.

"Ah, look who's on time, so eager to meet me, huh?" he said.

"None of your business. Now get to the point," I snapped.

"Actually, I was planning to organize a party on account of my engagement. You know how difficult it is to pay for everything. So why don't you take care of my expenses?" he said, carefully noting my expression.

This piece of donkey poop—why would I bother paying for his party? I know it's good to help the poor, but he's not a charity case. Now give me a reason why I would give him money.

"It was not stated in our agreement, and I'm not giving you a penny more," I told him firmly.

He obviously did not like my answer, and the mask of trying to look like a good person was slowly slipping off. He wanted to throw a tantrum like his usual self. Unfortunately, he grew into a six-foot snake, so now a tantrum would look funny.

"I told you, Raven, don't try to get smart with me. You do as I say. You were never strong enough to face me, not then, not today. So skip all your lectures and do as I say," he threatened.

"You seem to forget things easily, Adam. I kicked your butt that day, and I can do it right now," I shot back.

"Your wings seem to be growing a lot. Don't you think I should clip them? I didn't like your big mouth. It's time I show you where you belong," he sneered.

I scoffed at the idea of him talking about putting me in place. Try a better joke next time. Last time he broke me, I freaking became a billionaire. Try something again, and I will become something you can never imagine. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

"What will you do, try to hit me with your dainty palms?" I mocked.

"Don't take me lightly," he said, pulling out his phone and instructing someone to bring him in. Whom did he plan to scare me with? A ghost? No use, buddy, because people are more terrifying than them. I turned leisurely to see who Adam thought could terrify me, and what I saw made my blood run cold.

My legs began to give in, my breathing erratic. No, I was not ready for this part. No, no, this must be a dream. Wake up, please wake up. I don't want to do this.

Clear blue eyes that looked so much like mine, the confident stance I had seen and admired since I was a kid. The person whose love I thought I deserved but never actually got it. The person who didn't trust me when I wanted. The person who was supposed to help fight my battles but actually left me the first time something went wrong.

Brianna trudged along with him, they laughed loudly. My nails bit into my palms unknowingly drawing blood. How I wished to be in her place? How I wished he would look at me like that, with so much love, adoration, and most of all, respect. My Dad, the man once I thought was my hero. But my life was not a fairytale; my hero saved everyone except me. Twenty years I waited for him, in the corners, but he never came. Once he did come, not to help me, but to berate me, to tell me I was only a disappointment.

I still remember the disgust with what he looked. After that, I left, knowing that no one would miss me. I went out of my way to avoid him because if he told me once more, all he said that day, the way he looked at me that day. I cannot take it. It will destroy my soul. As a young girl, I looked up to him.

I was proud to call him Dad, but he was never proud. They reached me, Brianna immediately wiped the smile off her face and glared at Adam. Her eyes shifted to me, and she was taken aback at the look on my face.

My Dad looked at me curiously, and I waited for the disgust to appear on his face. Yes, remember the person you broke.

"Hello, Raven, I didn't know we were meeting today," she said, smiling. "Oh, James, meet Raven. Raven, meet James." There was no need to introduce us; he would very well recognize his mistake. That's what he called me last time.

"Raven," James, my Dad, said oddly in awe, looking at me. Did he not recognize it was the same Raven he abandoned, his daughter he never trusted? Before I could open my mouth to make a statement, he hugged me.

This was the first time my Dad had hugged me. I always dreamed of my Dad hugging me, telling me I'm the best daughter he's ever had. And once in life when it did happen, I was close to having a panic attack. Life's funny sometimes.

"Where did you go? We looked so much for you. Your mother had almost a seizure when she realized you left. Lily didn't come out of her room for three days. How could you do that to us? You left without an explanation," my Dad rambled, cupping my cheeks and wiping away tears.

"What about you, Dad?" I asked, fearing the answer.

"What about me?"

"Did you miss me? You never tried to find me?" I asked.

"Of course, I missed you. How can I not miss my daughter?" he answered, searching my face for some expression.

"Don't," I warned. "I spent so many years convincing myself that you didn't love me. You never cared for me. That was the only explanation that gave me assurance that I was not a mistake, that I deserve to be loved. Now don't come into my life and tell me you loved me."

"Raven, I'm sorry for what happened that day. Adam explained it to me," he said.

"Oh, you believe me now because Adam gave you an explanation. Where were you when I was screaming my lungs out and telling you? It's still the same, Dad. You trust me after he fed you lies about what happened," I said brokenly. There, Raven, pat yourself for still being that gullible, naive girl who still expected her family to come running after her, apologizing for never trusting her.

"I tried hard to be what I am today, to forget everything. Don't come in and try to put me back to that place where I will obviously get hurt," I warned everyone.

Brianna was watching the whole scene, jaw wide open. Adam, like the sadist he is, was smirking at my pitiful condition.

Dad gave me the same hopeful look I gave him years ago, thinking he would believe me.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

I turned back and left the cafe, refusing to hear the people calling me.

________________________________________

Tears blinded my eyes, my form trembling, my head pounding as I crashed on a bench. I promised myself not to cry, but here I am crying. What is a promise when it's not broken? Why did they not leave me alone? Why did he have to tell me everything now?

Someone brought me into their embrace. The scent of chocolate and burnt spices surrounded me, strong muscular hands kept moving up and down my frame, and a soothing voice muttered reassurances into my ear. I buried my face in a strong chest and cried.

A finger tucked into my chin, causing me to lift my gaze and look into grey eyes. Chris, I didn't know how or why he came here, but I knew it was all I wanted.

"You want to cry more?" he asked me sadly. He knew that I couldn't keep my emotions bottled up; I needed to cry, to let it all out.

"Your shirt, I'm sorry," I whispered into his chest.

"That's the last thing on my mind," he said.

"Could you let go of me?" he asked softly. I panicked and tightened my hold on his t-shirt. I did not want to be alone now; these are the times that bring unwanted but stupid ideas into my head. I don't want to make hasty decisions.

Chris did not miss the movement; he gave me a small smile. "Let go of me so I can get you home," he said.

I let him carry me to a car; I didn't hear him whisper an address to the driver. I buried my face into my hands and slowly cried. Chris pulled me into his side. Grateful for the contact, I snuggled into his side. He ran his fingers in a soothing manner, causing me to fall asleep.

When I woke up sometime later, I was alone in my bed. My eyes were puffed up, no doubt. My head hurt. I carefully walked out of my room to see Dave and Chris talking quietly.

"How did you find me?" I asked Chris.

"Brianna called me and told me everything. She said you left crying. I informed Dave, and we started looking for you," he replied.

"Are you okay?" Dave asked, looking at me sadly.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said.

Dave nodded. No use trying to get things out of me; when I'm ready to tell something, I will.

"You guys hungry? I'm making my famous lasagna," Dave said, causing me to smile. He knew it was my favorite. They didn't hound me for answers; they were trying to get me to stop thinking about everything that just happened.

Adam will have hell to pay for pulling such a stunt.