“You know, I really tried to be a good son, to follow in Father’s footsteps. But the irony is, I failed. I just wanted to take one risk, do what I wanted for once. Shit, I had fun, so much fun. The hookers, the bets…” He sounds like he’s about to lose his mind, his gaze drilling into me and sending chills down my spine. He steps closer and closer.
“Henry… I…”
“SHUT UP, SHUT YOUR STUPID MOUTH,” he suddenly screams, making me flinch and shrink into myself.
“You… were supposed to be my ticket to freedom, but you ruined everything. You know, when you get too lucky, it always comes back to bite you. Well, I just had bad luck. And you weresupposed to fix it. You. But no… Amelia is too dumb even for that.”
Insane. He’s completely insane, ranting nonsense. Still, his words cut deep, because once again I wasn’t enough. And I don’t even know what I did wrong this time.
“My sweet, naive little sister, clueless as always, right?” he mocks, and I stare at him with wide eyes, fighting back the rising nausea. I need a clear head to think.
I have to get out of here.
But fear and panic are a shitty combination, and I feel paralyzed. I am paralyzed.
“He banished me. And everything was foolproof. You just had to do your damn job and stay out of the spotlight. But no, my sister has to spread her legs for others and let herself be photographed. Now I’ve been exiled. Everything’s gone. Because of you.” His eyes bore into mine, and I make the mistake of looking straight at him, seeing the madness, the burning hatred, and that’s when I slip up.
A scream tears from my throat as he lunges at me like a madman. I try to dodge, but twist my ankle in the process and stumble as he grabs me.
NO.
He yanks me toward him, grabs my hair, and slams my head into the desk with full force.
Pain—nothing but pain. A loud ringing fills my ears. My vision blurs, and my legs give out beneath me.
“You stupid, stupid whore. That’s what you get,” he hisses, dragging me across the floor by my hair. Pain.
It hurts.
Don’t.
Stop!
But he doesn’t stop.
“D-d… oon’t…” I whimper, but he just laughs cruelly.
“What? You want me to stop? You want me to turn a blind eye on all the shame you brought on me? Forget it. You’re going to pay for it.” His spit hits my face as he yanks me close, and I have to swallow hard to keep from vomiting. I fail, retching and vomiting on his shoes.
“Oh shit, you dumb slut.” His fist smashes into my cheek, and he drops me. I curl up, the stench of my own vomit making me gag again.
It hurts so much.
Don’t.
His foot crashes into my stomach, my abdomen, again and again. There’s a loud crack. A deafening hum in my ears.
“YOU.”
Kick
“ARE.”
Kick
“TO BLAME.”
Kick
