Chapter 32
A R I A N A
My phone buzzed on my desk, It was a text from my father.
“My office. Now p>
My stomach dropped, this was never good, every time he summoned me like this, it ended in a fight.
It always did.
Raya looked over from the desk, her face worried. “Everything okay p>
“It’s my father,” I said, standing up slowly. “He wants to see me p>
Raya frowned. “Do you want me to come with you? For backup p>
I shook my head. “No, It won’t be necessary.” I didn’t want her to see whatever was about to happen.
And it will only provoke him as he’s warned me to never bring in anyone to his office when he asks for me, I should always make sure to come alone.
So they won’t see what a horrible, ruthless, father that he is.
How disgusting.
I walked down the long hallway to my father’s office, my heart pounding with every step. I knocked softly.
“Enter.” His voice was cold.
I opened the door and stepped inside, he was pacing back and forth behind his giant desk, he didn’t look at me.
The door clicked shut behind me, the sound loud in the tense silence.
Finally, he stopped pacing and turned to face me, his eyes were blazing with a fury I had never seen before.
What did I do now?
Without a word, he crossed the room in three long strides his hand shot out and wrapped around my throat, slamming me back against the wall, my head hit the hard surface with a sickening thud.
Stars exploded in my vision.
“You stupid, stupid girl,” he hissed, his face inches from mine, his grip tightened, cutting off my air. “Did you really think you could keep it from me? Did you think I wouldn’t find out p>
I clawed at his hand, gasping for breath, I didn’t know what he was talking about. What secret?
“Your little secret is out,” he snarled, his spit hitting my face. “And you have ruined everything p>
Tears streamed down my face as I tried to speak, to ask what he meant, but no sound came out.
The room began to spin and I felt like was going to pass out.
He finally released me, and I crumpled to the floor, choking and coughing, my throat on fire.
He stood over me, a giant of rage. “You will fix this,” he said, his voice deadly calm. “Or you will wish you had drowned in that pool. Everything i do is for the worth of my family, for you and your stupid mother but you never fail to ruin every plan… what do you think is going to happen to the company… the merge… what do you think Dante would do if he finds out? Huh p>
I’m not sure how he found out but part of me knew that it has to do with Bella, she must have told him.
She was the only one who knew, the only one cruel enough to use it like this.
“Dad, please,” I sobbed, scrambling backward on the floor. “I’m sorry! I don’t know how you found out, but please p>
“Sorry?” he roared, his face turning a frightening shade of purple. “Sorry doesn’t fix this! I regret the day you were born! Your stupid mother should have given me a male heir! A son would not have been such a constant disappointment! A son would not have nearly destroyed my life’s work p>
His words were a physical blow, worse than any slap, they carved out something deep inside me, something that finally broke.
I was done taking his crap!
I’ve had enough of it.
I pushed myself up from the floor, my whole body shaking. “I have done EVERYTHING to please you!” I screamed, the words tearing from my raw throat. “I married a man I hated because you told me to! I gave up my entire life for this family! And you… you have never once been proud of me! You only ever humiliate me! You only ever belittle me! Nothing I do is ever good enough for you p>
My father’s eyes widened in shock at my outburst, then they narrowed in pure hatred. “You ungrateful little p>
He lunged at me, his hand swinging through the air and I didn’t even try to dodge it, the slap cracked across my face, whipping my head to the side.
The taste of blood filled my mouth.
I touched my stinging lip, looking at the red on my fingers, I stared back at him, at the monster who was my father.
All the fear was gone, replaced by a cold, hard hatred.
“You’re a monster,” I whispered, my voice surprisingly steady. “You’re not a father, and I damn the day you became my father, the only thing you’ve ever been good at is hitting me p>
He looked stunned.
Then his expression darkened again, but I was already turning away.
“I quiet! You can go find yourself a fucking heir that will fit to your fucking demand”
And with that, I walked out of his office, out of his life, leaving him standing there, alone with his rage.
The door clicked shut behind me, and I knew I would never, ever go back.