Page 88 of Sweetest Revenge

Even after everything that had happened between me and Warren, anger still flowed through my veins. I didn’t think it was this strong anymore until Tristian mentioned the money.

But there was something else too. An emotion I didn’t want to name and that only got stronger when Maxwell and Tristian shared a look before looking at Warren, waiting for him to speak.

The silence got heavier.

Say something.

Something to make me angry. Something to stop the crushing feeling of everything you’re insinuating from burying me alive.

It was the same one that filled me when I scrolled the internet looking at all the headlines detailing the horrible things my father did.

“It was made out to your mother,” Warren said. “She cashed it the following day. All four million of it.”

I couldn’t breathe. The world came crashing down. I lost my balance, stumbling to the side. Everyone in the room tried to reach out to me, but I held up my hand and lowered myself to the chair.

Four million? Four fucking million dollars?

The first conversation I had with my mother after Dad died was about how we were going to survive without his money. What we would have to go without. How we’d get jobs.

She cashed it and never told me?

I felt sick.

Where was that money for the past eight years? Where was it when I was working eighty hours a week? Where was it when we were running out of food and our electricity was cut off?

More importantly… Where was it now that she was in the hospital?

“He also gave you the place you’re living in. The creditors wanted to take it, but Warren made a deal with them. It’s a wonder how it has a lien. The mortgage was slashed in half, and the money he gave you should have been enough to?—”

“Tristian, I swear to god I’m taking back the bonus.”

For the first time, a small smile pulled at the man’s lips.

It sent a shiver down my spine.

We were often late because my job barely paid enough to cover the mortgage and our living expenses.

The news that my father was a criminal had been devastating, but my mother doing this behind my back… I didn’t know how much more I could take without losing my lunch.

“Are you saying… my mother had money this whole time and I never knew about it?” My voice sounded weak and vulnerable even to my ears.

Tears pricked my eyes, and I had to bite my lip to stop them from spilling over.

“Let’s give them some time, yeah?” Maxwell said and quickly shoved Tristian out of the room. The man didn’t even protest, his face remaining impassive.

I didn’t move once they were gone, but a lone tear forced itself from my eye.

“Come here, Addi.”

I didn’t want to, but I didn’t have the energy to fight him either.

Slowly, I got up and walked to where Warren was sitting. I stood there, waiting for him to say something. I couldn’t look him in the eyes for fear I’d absolutely lose it. I was holding on by the thinnest, million-year-old, dusty thread.

It had taken a beating since the auction, and instead of the rage-filled, vengeful Addi, I was turning into a pitiful mess.

I didn’t want to be like this. I want to be strong. I want to be the person who gets revenge for their loved ones. Who overcomes everything, even a man like Warren.

But in that moment, all I wanted was him. Consequences be damned, I wanted him.

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