"Liar." She spat at me and grabbed her son. Silently I watched them leave my room and stood there for what seemed like Forever. Xavier hadn't defended me. He wasn't human, he was a pig and he deserved worse than a pig. It was almost impossible that the man who had stared at me so passionately a few moments ago turned cold stone and left me to be insulted and ravaged by his mother. At least now you know your place, my mind consoled. Now you know what you are to them."A mere pawn," I whispered. Tears rolled down my cheeks and for the umpteenth time in past weeks, I felt alone. ***"Rain drizzle and the drops slid down my skin as I walked down the street blindly. I wasn't so sure where I was, I had left Lowell's home about an hour ago, tired of the constant suffocating walls and tired of being a pushover. Susie had been asleep when I went to her room for comfort and I couldn't blame her. She had spent the past months helping me with my problems, she deserved a break from it. Everyon
Susie always did say I was quite dumb. And right at the moment, I agree. Because there would be no other reason why I would be standing right in front of my estranged father's house, the same jackass who abandoned me before I could spell "preposterous" if I wasn't stupid. But hey, between a bastard for a husband who couldn't stand up to his mother and a bastard for a father who at least thought not to leave me to die in the cold, I'd pick the latter any day. Besides, he owed me a lot of hot teas and biscuits in the past, I was simply collecting my dues. "Come on in." He urged eyeing me softly as I glared at the building before me. It was a suburban duplex. A freaking modern home with all the dandy flowers by the lawn and the garage on the left side of the house. If he could afford to live in such a place, why hadn't he come back for me? Why had he left? Shaking my head, I pulled my face into a grim look, or at least what I imagined to be a grim look and motioned with my head for
"So what is it going to be Laura?" I asked ignoring the repeating drops of rain that landed on my nose. "I'll show you!" She yelled and stormed into the house, successfully leaving the door open and available. I grinned at her retreating figure and walked into the house hearing her father sigh behind me. I could imagine Susie's encouraging words in my head. Oh, she would be so proud. My shoulders drooped at the thought as I recalled that I had left her at the Lowell's. She would be so worried sick. Heck, she'd probably have attacked Brenda thinking the woman had done something to me. I sighed again as we stepped into the living room. I would have to go back of course. I know I couldn't hide forever. But I was going to enjoy every minute of my temporary freedom. Starting now. My feet carried me to a smooth leather couch and I plopped on it like a piece of stone, marvelling at the luxury of the place. On the walls of the living room were two portraits, one of Laura and another of h
"You have a karaoke machine?!" I squealed running towards the rather rectangular box with a mini screen on it. "This is pretty cool. Grandma used to love karaoke but the diner that has it is quite far so we go like on Thursdays only."Laura was giving me a tour of the house. I hadn't asked for it or anything and I was quite ready in case she tried to shove me into a closet or hit me on the head with a vase or something. Living with so many backstabbers had made me conscious of the fact to always watch my back. We stood in the lounge, well she stood but I was busily palming the karaoke machine like it was my best friend. "My dad won that from his friend in Alaska. They had some bet or so." Laura said proudly. "Want to sing a song together?"I grinned widely at her. Forget the vase and the closet. I was going to have the time of my life without worrying about anything. An image of a very angry Xavier floated through my head and I immediately shook it out. I don't care what that idiot d
"Hailey!" He yelled again and we could all tell he was now in the living room. "Hailey," my father called. "I don't believe the whole sulking thing for a second. But if it's your wish to return to him, then I cannot hold you back."I gave him a brief nod because what else was I supposed to do? What was I even supposed to say? I have a raving mad husband stomping around my estranged father's living room. I was the epitome of total drama rama, I ought to be a lead character in it. My legs wobbled as I took steps towards the living room, mentally checking my appearance for if I looked too frightened or shaken. Xavier and his mom seemed to feed on fear to grow bigger and I would be damned if I fed them after all the things they put me through. I glanced back at Laura. I don't know why I did. Maybe a part of me wanted her to see through the stupid facade I was creating for myself, the facade that I was okay and happy with the golden Xavier Lowell. She scoffed however, shaking her head r
"Hailey! You crazy bitch! By the time I am through with you!" Yup, I was dead meat. I sat in Xavier's car contemplating my life's choices. If Susie got to enter the car, the possibility that I would get eaten up, swallowed, regurgitated and chewed out was ninety-nine percent. The one percent depended on if I could wear her out first. When she got to the car, whose windows, I had rolled down slightly. It was low enough such that we could hear each other but high enough to keep me safe from Susie's mauling. She did look like she would bash my head in the first chance she would get. "What the hell?!" She screeched, reaching for the car door."Way ahead of you," I muttered when she tried opening it and it didn't open. If I wasn't so tired, I'd probably be smirking like an idiot at the moment. "Open this door now Hailey." She ordered and I shook my head, imitating a Marilyn Monroe voice. "No can do Susie. I'm afraid I can't do that until I get a promise-""Easy," she gritted. "I prom
The workers at the hospital we found were quite fast. In seconds, Xavier was on a stretcher and was wheeled into a private ward with several doctors attending to him. If anyone asked me, I would say it was because he was a popular hotshot billionaire and they did not want an awful reputation if anything went wrong. Being the wife of a man beloved by the public was quite awesome. Who knew there was a part of a hospital that did not smell like antiseptic and vomit? I was ushered with Susie into a rather luxurious room, well at least compared to the wards outside, it seemed luxurious. A bottle of water was fitted in my hand and the room had a heater that warmed up my frigid body. "All these in a hospital," Susie mumbled, sipping from her bottle of water. "Get ready to pay some hefty bills." I shrugged, I wasn't the one paying anyways. I eyed the door steadily. Granted, it was just fever, I doubt anything complicated or serious would amount from it. But that didn't stop me from worryin
As if I were candy and he needed me, Xavier just stared at me. Who was I to refuse a voluntary show of emotions from the guy who claimed to be my spouse when his eyes shined with feelings I dare not even imagine?"You're okay." He murmured weakly and I had a sad smile, walking towards him. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I murmured. The tears didn't seem to be coming out, however, so I stuck with quivering my lips like I was lost in Antarctica. Mahn, my grandma would have my head for all this pretence. I was genuinely happy that he was okay, but considering the way he treated me, along with his family, he did not deserve my quivering lips and other associated hysterics. He reached a hand to my face then, smiling as he stroked it. "You're okay. It's okay. I'm just happy you're safe." My heart stuttered and stumbled at the supposed sincerity in his eyes. How could anyone pretend so well? So good that it almost felt real? It was impressive but also very painful as it only made me yearn fo