Page 66 of The Silence of Hell

“Oh, shut up, you damned bitch!” I exclaimed, and the three people in front of me gasped in horror. “Honestly, what did you ever bring this family except strife and greed? Knowing you, you latched onto Grandpa Reginald and deliberately got yourself pregnant so you could have the easy life. Because God forbid you get your hands dirty doing an honest day’s work.

“Even if it is the last thing I do, I will see you locked away and everything stripped from you. You owe the estate millions, and I’ll get it back. And as for you two. Being born a Bloodsworth is a responsibility, it means something. You never learned that because of that she-devil. Being heir to this is a privilege, it’s not about what the estate and trust can do for you but what you can do for it!

“That’s something none of you ever realised or tried to understand. You’d have stripped everything of value and wasted it on stupid things like yachts and cars. None of you are worthy of the estate and what comes with it,” I snapped at them.

Dollar signs showed in their eyes. I was nothing to them. That pain stabbed deep inside me. I had hoped that they did care about me. But I was clearly wrong. The only thing I’d been to them was a means to get their greedy hands on the trust.

I drew my shoulders back as I saw a car appear in the drive.

“This is my final answer for you three. You’re lazy and self-entitled and wouldn’t know goodness if someone slapped you with it. I’ll push these charges and ensure you all see the inside of a jail cell. My lawyer has already had your assets frozen, I shall claim them back and strip you of everything you value.

“See, you had treasure in your hands. Something most parents automatically understand. A child is a blessing, not a credit card to a fortune. I am not blowing my own trumpet, not saying I’m the be-all and end-all. But I bet everything I own, Aunt Aggie would have given this up even just for one more day with her children. She knew what treasures they were and treated them as such.

“You? You all disgust me. Janice, you gave birth to Dad to get your hands on the money, and Mom did the same with me. How does it feel, Dad, knowing that? You were nothing more than a ploy for Janice’s greed to get her nasty, grubby fingers on this?”

“Shut your mouth, my mother loves me!” Dad hissed.

I snickered. “Take a look at her. I think you’re mistaken!”

Dad looked at Janice and blanched at the expression he saw. He turned to me, and for a moment, I thought he might get it, and then a sneer crossed his face.

“Nice try, Lavender. Divide and conquer,” Dad praised with huge amounts of sarcasm.

“She’s blaming you for everything, as is Mom. You’ll soon learn. When you do, remember you had a child who loved you. But you threw her away,” I said as the police car drew up.

“Ma’am, is there a problem?” the officer said, and Janice’s mouth dropped open.

“You called the cops on us?”

“Yup,” I answered and quickly explained as they tried to reach their car. They all ended up arrested, as they were indeed in breach of bail conditions.

I watched as they were carted away, making empty threats, and I planned to press even further charges. I was done with them. None of them were family.

“Babe?” Chatter murmured.

“I’m okay,” I whispered.

“We can make a family, sweetness. One that is full of love.”

“Wow, from six months to long term and a family,” I teased, and Chatter laughed.

“Are you complaining?”

“No. But you know you are going to have to tell me what happened to Hallie?” I replied, and Chatter sobered.

“One day, babe.”

“When you do, then I’ll know you’re genuinely ready to commit,” I said and headed indoors.

Chatter

He was talking to Jinx when Lavender appeared. She had her bottom lip caught between her teeth and a look of confusion on her face.

“Someone’s been in my room. They left gifts again.”

Chatter stiffened. “What?”

“A bunch of flowers and a stone…” Lavender’s voice trailed off as a memory hit her.

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