Page 47 of Bittersweet Revenge

Antoine paled, realizing I knew more than he wanted me to.

“As you know, your sister has not been forthcoming. She’d rather drown than be with me, so I think that–”

“SHE DIDN’T TRY TO KILL HERSELF!” Archibald snapped, his face reflecting the frustration I felt.

This was a waste of time. They would not come clean. I needed to find out what they were hiding using other methods. Even though it was four against one, they wouldn't stand a chance against me.

I stood up, grabbing my bag. “I’m done with this shit. Meeting adjourned. I’ll see you when you decide to stop being backstabbing whores and return to being the powerful kings you used to be.”

I smirked. “Now I’ll go find Aleksandra and ease my frustration. I’ll see you for lunch. It might very well take all of the morning classes.”

Archibald's face darkened with anger at the idea of me cheating on his sister. If only he knew the truth and the curse that had affected my dick since I'd taken Esmeralda’s virginity.

I also knew that it was my only possible excuse as the bitch was not going to be in school for a few days. She had been texting me nonstop since I'd left her place the night Esmeralda had nearly drowned. She was now on her way to an upscale clinic to get some work done as if she thought it would entice me. Even with or without the Esmeralda curse, she had another thing coming. Had I ever wanted to fuck plastic, I would have ordered a doll. At least then I wouldn’t have to pretend to listen to all her crap as I pumped into her.

After exiting the room, I waited behind the lockers for the meeting to be over. Archibald and Antoine didn’t have any reason to feel suspicious. But no matter what I felt beyond pathetic following Archibald Forbes like a fucking groupie in heat. How could the tables have turned? I used to be the king, on top, untouchable, and enjoying how it felt above it all. Now I was left behind playing I-Spy to get some scrap of information. Oh, if my father could see me…

Archibald exited and walked into another empty classroom where he took out his phone.

I leaned beside the door, opening it slightly to listen. We still had the minutes before the changing of classes.

“Hey, don’t worry. Everything is okay. Yes, Caleb is fine too. Why do you even care?” Archibald snapped and I couldn't help but smile a little. Esmeralda's concern over me was not completely fake and that made me feel better.

“Oh, come on. It’s only homeroom… So what?” He sighed. “You're Forbes. Nobody cares if you miss the end of class. Esme. Esme...ESME! Fuck, just listen.”

Now I chuckled out loud. I'd found Archibald’s master - his sister.Pot, meet kettle,a little vicious taunting voice resonated in the back of my mind, sobering me fast.

“You need to talk to him. Tell him. No, I have not lost my mind, but Esme, I think you can trust him. Tell him something, anything. Ease his mind. Make him understand you didn't try to kill yourself. Please, for me.”

I was frozen on the spot, my head against the door, not even pretending to be just standing there. Archibald Forbes was pleading my case. Of all the people in the world, he would never have been my pick.

“No, not only for that. I would feel better if he knew something. You would be safer at his place. He cares, Esme. No matter how much he denies it to you, to me, to himself. He cares...deeply.”

I cursed under my breath and walked away, deciding to spy another day. How was it that he saw so clearly into me when I always thought I was a mystery?

I did care, and I hated it. I hated it even more now that I knew the world had figured it out. Did my father know? The thought chilled me to the bone. If he did, it would be the end of everything. He would have leverage again, a leverage he'd lost when Theo had died.

I didn’t even pretend to be out with Aleks, choosing instead to walk to my next class when the bell rang.

“So what about Aleks?” Archibald asked as we walked in.

“Not here today,” I admitted. Just as I sat at my desk, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

Can you meet me by your car at lunch? I need to talk to you.

I looked at Esmeralda’s text, cursing myself as my heartrate picked up just at the reception of a message. It was the first one she had ever sent me. I felt like a child as both apprehension and a certain feeling of treacherous hope settled its painful claws into my heart.

Don’t betray me again, Esmeralda, I thought.

OK, but don’t waste my time,I replied. Just as the class was called to order, I saw the three little dots of Esme’s pending reply. Well, our teacher had another thing coming if she thought I would let go of my phone before seeing the answer.

Promise,she simply replied.

As lunch approached, I couldn’t help the apprehension that settled in me. It was a new feeling. Ever since Esmeralda had entered my life, I’d started to sometimes feel like a child. It was unnerving. Before, I’d been all contempt and anger. Now... I wasn’t sure anymore.

I met her by my car and leaned down bracing my arm on the car beside her face.

People began staring at us with various levels of indiscretion. We were the star couple of Brentwood, but rarely showed any familiarity. People assumed it was simply for decorum, that PDA was against our elitist customs, and not due to the disgust my touch elicited in my fiancée. How ironic.

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