NovelGoldChapter 166: Chapter 166
DEMI
My hands tremble as | end the call. A wave of nausea hits me, threatening to makespill my guts. | bend over
with a hand closed over my mouth and the other on my stomach.
"Wow." Liam exclaims, clapping his hands. "That was...beyond impressive. Your acting skills even under pressure
is Oscar approved." He smiles at Skylar who pries my phone out of my hand before | bolt to a corner and throw
up.
"I guess we're going to shop for your party dress. This is my favorite part..."
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" | yell at her after wiping my mouth. "What the hell is wrong with both of
you? How are you not ashamed of yourselves right now? Do you think you're better than the people who hurt
you even after all this?" | walk up to Skylar. "Look, | don’t know the backstory here but | suspect you and I have a
similar bone to pick with Brett Rollins. | get that you're livid that they were unremorseful of their wrongs towards
you but here’s what I've realized after spending six years obsessed with getting my revenge. If you happen to
enjoy doing evil in the nof avenging your loved ones, then you were always innately evil just like the Rollins
family. THIS," | add referring to Ashal and the phone call, "none of it is okay and if you had a conscience or a
moral compass at the very least, you'd feel ashamed of yourself."
Quick as a whiplash, she smacksso hard across the cheek blood trickles from my torn lip.
"Don’t you EVER compareto those monsters!" She warns while wagging a finger in my face. Her eyes widen
like saucers as she drives hher defense.
"This is justice for all the evil they’ve wrought in this world, and all the lives they've destroyed." A dry chuckle
follows. "You and | are nothing alike, Demi. The Rollins family killed your parents and because you're too weak to
keep your head in the gand fight them, you're here sucking up to them to win brownie points with Ashton.
Disgraceful!" She spits on the floor and steps back, her face aglow with hatred under the glow of the light.
"That family took everything from me: everything. Brett stole everything from me! He took my parents and
madean orphan. He took my family’s wealth and madebeg for scraps of food all my life. He even took
my siblings and turned them to poisonous monsters like himself. He took everything and leftwith nothing but
this life goal; to end his evil reign and eliminate everything that tethers him to this world. I will never feel
ashamed for doing the world this service."
Her eyes find Ashal’s who's shocked at her words. She squats to stare at him. "Mother would be so ashamed to
see what you all have become. She didn’t go through nine hours of labor or fight to keep you just for you to
become...this. You are a disappointment and a disgrace. YOU WILL NEVER BE MY BROTHER." Tears stream down
her face as well as Ashal’s eyes. "YOU WILL ONLY EVER BE THE SHAMELESS SON WHO REMAINED LOYAL TO THE
DEVIL THAT RIPPED HIM AND HIS BROTHERS FROM THE ARMS OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS RIGHT BEFORE
SETTING THEIR HABLAZE."
She spits on him before stepping back and slamming my phone back into my hands. | rush to comfort Ashal
who's struggling not to be overwhelmed with emotion.
"You better not think of breaking character, Demi. When you step through those doors and go out, you must be
the enemy that family expects you to be. If you give them any reason to suspect that you're being forced to do
all this against your will, | don’t have to tell you what happens."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
| glare at her. "What? You'd kill your brother? You honestly believe your parents would cheer for you and your
revenge when it means killing your own flesh and blood, instead of reuniting with them?"
Before she can step forward to hitagain, Liam stops her.
"She's trying to get into your head. Ignore her." He kisses her knuckles. "Why don’t you go get started on that
shopping spree for Demi and birthday boy over here. I'll handle things here."
Skylar draws in a sharp breath. "She better check that cockiness the next twe run into each other or Anna
might just be our new basement guest." Seeing the shock splattered all over my face makes her grin before
leaving. Liam whirls toand scoffs at the sight before him;comforting Ashal.
"You would be wise to listen to everything she says, Demi. Don’t think for one second that she’s bluffing or that
she’s incapable of following through with her threat. She'll gladly prove you wrong."
When I try to reply, | feel Ashal tug tightly on my shirt, apparently stoppingfrom antagonizing Liam with a
clapback. | shut my mouth and hug him close. Liam gives us one last contemptible look before walking away. |
quickly remove the duct tape around Ashal’s mouth, and almost cry when he yelps in pain.
"Oh Ashal, I'm so sorry." My fingers tremble as | cup his red, bruised face. "I'm so sorry you had to go through
this."
"It’s okay." He winces in pain. When | try to untie the other ropes, he stops me. "There's no point. They won't let
"| can’t leave you here like this."
"You'll have to. Don’t antagonize them, Demi. They could really hurt you." He coughs a bit. "Why did you make
that call? My family must think you're behind all this."
"That's the least of my worries right now, Ashal."
His eyes dim with sadness. "You keep suffering for just being associated with us. What if | don’t make it out alive
to clear your name..."
"Don’t...say that." | warn him through gritted teeth. "You have to be strong. You'll be reunited with your family
soon." | press my forehead to his as he remindsof Ashton. "Why did you go to see Olivia without telling
anyone?
"I needed some...closure. | needed to assure her and her family one last tthat they needn't live in fear
anymore. | should have known that my visit would only stir up their anxiety." He dips his eyes to the floor when |
ease back to look at him. "I wanted to see Maddi again, to say a proper goodbye."
He's in love with Maddi? That's almost more complicated thanbeing in love with my ex-husband’s brother
but I say nothing on the matter. | have no right to judge.
"Olivia was startled to see me. She made a big deal of my impromptu visit and refused to calm down even when
| assured her | cin peace. She spoke with someone on the phone shortly after agreeing to lettalk with
Maddi. The last thing | remember is passing out after taking the fruit juice | was offered. | woke up in here
moments before Liam had his guards beatto a pulp."
"Then she must be in on this whole plan."
"| figured as much." He adjusts his fragainst the wall. "It seems like there’s more between them."
"Between Liam and Olivia?"
"lI am not sure what | saw when | roused awake after the first beating but it definitely looked and sounded like
Olivia was in here with Liam. She must have cto see me, only she didn’t seem surprised by or concerned
about my state. She was thanking Liam instead. They seem very familiar with each other."
Olivia and Liam? | can’t believe what | am hearing.
"Maybe it’s like Liam mentioned tobefore. This revenge plot thrives on the support of real victims who hold a
grudge against your family. Olivia must have been approached by Liam somehow and offered the opportunity to
see her enemies sink in real time. | am sure they're just working together towards a common goal."
If he believes a word | just said, Ashal doesn’t show it. Instead, he stares blankly at the door.
"Is that lady truly my sister? She’s not the lost sister Ashton found months ago. If she’s my biological sister, then
Adriana whom Ashton was introduced to as our sister must be a fake. Do you think Skylar’s behind that
deception too? Could it all be a part of her scheme?"
"You knew you had a biological sister this whole time? Ashal, why didn’t you believewhen | tried to warn
you?
He sighs deeply. "It also took a while for Ashton to convinceabout Adriana, especially given the backstory
her existence cwith." He manages to telleverything Cree had shared with them, makingshiver with
fright. Now, it’s all coming together. Skylar's unwavering quest for revenge is understandable but hardly
justifiable given her unorthodox methods.
"Maybe Cree was right all along. My father really did those despicable things to my biological parents. The
adoption story must also be fake. There’s no way Skylar would be this vengeful if she wasn't still hurting from
the past. She couldn't have made up the hatred. It clearly stems from within."
| don’t know if Cree can be trusted right now seeing as she is one of Skylar and Liam's lackeys but the story
definitely adds up. | break out of my thoughts when I hear Ashal crying.
"Hey, it's going to be okay. Please don't cry."
"Nothing is going to be okay. | don’t think I'll ever be okay after all this. My whole life has been a lie. The family |
fought so hard to protect might have actually madean orphan at birth. My ex-wife hadabducted. | am
forbidden from having a life with the one woman who lovesback despite knowing my flaws. And my
brothers...where do | even begin?"
I hold him close as he cries smore. Just then, Liam comes in and demands that I leave.
"Time's up, hon. Tto go."
I hug Ashal one last time, my heart breaking as | hope it won't be the last t| see him with breath in his body.
On my way out, Liam grabs my wrist.
"No way you're leaving with all that blood on you. I'll get you sof Mila’s clothes, and then you can leave."
ork
As | make my way to Anna's, | try to shelve my feelings for Ashal’s condition. | need to be strong no matter what.
| have to play their glong enough to gather enough evidence that no amount of money on earth can
smother.
| frisk myself and retrieve the hidden camera | wore to Liam's place. Hopefully, | got enough footage here to
show that | had nothing to do with Ashal’s condition and that Liam, together with Skylar, are behind everything.
| unearth my phone and smash it on the ground. | know well enough that it must have been tapped but more so,
| can’t stand it after the call | made to Ashton. I'll get another one. If Liam asks, I'll just say | accidentally dropped
i)
The sight of Asher’s car at Anna’s place is something | expected. Yet, | am not mentally or emotionally prepared
to face any member of the Rollins family right now. | am not ready to act the script of an incorrigible villain in
Skylar’s plot. As | turn to leave, Anna’s voice defendingcatches my attention. Tears stream down my eyes
when she refuses to believe the evidence Asher shoves in her face and maintains her stance that Liam is the
true villain.
It feels good to know that | still have someone who trustsso much even when | am tempted to doubt myself.
I didn’t mean to be spotted but the way Asher was going, | feared he meant to pit my friend against me. | dried
my eyes and stepped out from behind his car.
"There you are." He utters before heading towards me. All | can think about is Ashal and how | have to play the
mean bitch so he doesn’t get hurt.
"Go home, Asher." | try to go past him but true to form, he blocks my path.
"I'm not here to beg you, Demi. I'm here to warn you. You're playing a dangerous gand there's absolutely no
way you're walking out of this unscathed. If | don’t get my brother back in one piece after we comply with your
terms, I'd gladly drag you to the depths of hell with me. THAT'S A PROMISE."
He glares at Anna. "Saint, huh?" He hisses before getting into his car and leaving.
| walk past Anna and head into the house. Anna is kind enough to letshower first before asking how | am
faring. | wait for her to askabout Asher’s accusations but she only holdsclose, stroking my hair.
It hurtsto realize how much she trustsand how | have to lie to her keep my plans under lock. This time
around, | can’t afford to be predictable to anyone at all. | have to be the only one who knows how all of this will
end. Letting Anna in might foil my plans on a large scale, especially if she’s swayed by Asher to tell him the
truth. If Liam or Skylar get wind of the fact that | am playing them, Ashal could really die and | can’t have that.
"Aren't you going to askwhy I did it?" | ask, breaking the silence.
Anna continues to play with my hair. "You returned with a change of clothes that don’t belong to you and spent
nearly two hours crying silently in the shower. If you had the stomach to do evil, you would have been able to
hold down your dinner and sleep like a baby. | know you didn’t do that to Ashal. | don’t have to ask."
| smile maniacally. "That's what makes this so much more interesting. No one believes | am capable of anything."
"You're capable of a lot of good, Demi. That's not a weakness. It's a good thing."
"You're right. | am good. Justice is good. Exacting justice on those who deserve it is also good. That's why | hurt
Ashal. That's why | am still going to take down the Rollins family, because they're a blight in our generation. It's
all good."
| feel Anna’s hands slide off my hair. | sit up, smile at her, tie my hair in a low bun and go to sleep, like a baby.
The next day, my party dress arrives early, delivered by none other than Ashton himself.
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