Chapter 57: You killed her...

"I want revenge."

Revenge?

"What do you mean?" I ask in shock.

"Okay, kids!" Luther interrupts us, reminding us about his presence. "That's enough bickering for one day. Tristan," he says to my supposedly now ex, "-you may leave."

Tristan doesn't waste another second and he rips his gaze away from mine before abruptly leaving the room.

"That was... fun." Is this man insane or what?

Piece of advice, don't name your child Luther, or else...

............

Two days.

No proper food, but the constant microwave soup with an awful taste.

Forty-eight hours of trying to fathom the past days' events.

Two thousand, eight hundred and eighty minutes of constantly questioning yourself about what went wrong and why.

"I want revenge."

Tristan's words are still sailing along the rough seas of my never-ending thoughts of confusion and anger.

He seeks revenge, but revenge on what?

Think, Hailey, think!

The sound of a screeching metal door pulls me out of my reverie and brings me back to reality. In walks a strikingly gorgeous Tristan, as ever, clad in dark jeans with a black and white Adidas hoodie. What is supposed to be a turn off, but isn't, is his cold expression towards me-- creased eyebrows, and no smile but a deep scowl.

'Til this hour, my head still turns in confusion as to why the only person I thought I could trust betrayed me.

I thought I had already felt enough pain to last me the rest of my life. But no, my mother had to trap me in the illusion that we were one perfect family, when all along, I hadn't even been living with my biological father.

And now, Tristan just joined the list of the people who decided that hurting Hailey could be a trend. He tricked me into making me trust him and confide in him. He jumped into my life unexpectedly and changed everything I had failed to change myself.

But all that was an act to draw me closer to Luther.

"Luther wants to see you." Tristan's cold voice cuts through my anger-filled thoughts.

I stay silent.

"Silent treatment?" He asks with a devious smirk, almost mirroring Luther's signature one.

I still remain silent.

"I'm not even going to waste my energy on squeezing words out of your mouth." He rolls his eyes.

He cuts every rope tying me to the uncomfortable metal chair and says sternly, "Don't even think about fighting me."

"How could you?" I ask in defeat. "Why would you?"

Tristan freezes at my questions for a few seconds, before grabbing my arm forcefully, bringing me abruptly to my weak feet.

Having not moved my legs for almost two miserable days, my balance falters but Tristan's strong arms wrap around my waist before I could make out with the dusty floor.

After catching me, he doesn't move his arms from my body but instead his hazel orbs stare into my calculating ones. His grip on me is tightening by the minute, and I lift a hand to cup his cheek.

"Where's the guy I fell in love with?" I whisper out, and judging by his doe eyes, he must've heard me.

Wow, Hailey, what a perfect moment to tell a guy you love him.

"I'm s-sorry for hurting you... but--"

I cut Tristan's words by smashing my lips against his. Man I've missed the feeling of his lips on mine. I begin moving my lips urgently against his, and only after a few seconds, does he responds.

In sync, our lips move. Hungryily and aggressively they fight for dominance, but his win when his tongue enters my mouth. This reminds me of how I've missed his taste, his passion every kiss enclosed.

My hands travel to his soft locks, and I tug him closer to body as though I'll never get to see him again. He responds by pulling me closer to him as well, his hands even resting on my butt.

The heat between us is soon replaced by a cold wave of hurt when he painfully shoves me away. I stumble back a bit, before standing my ground to look at the darkest eyes I've ever seen.

"That wasn't supposed to happen," he wipes his mouth with a sleeve of his hoodie in disgust.

My eyes begin to swell with hot tears, and my lips threaten to tremble.

Crying is for the weak.

The weak.

Not me.

I'm strong.

Few minutes of excruciating silence pass us, every second more unnerving than the other. Taking a leap of faith, he breaks the palpable silence, rather coldly might I add, "We have to get going. Luther has waited long enough."

.................

"Hailey!" Luther cheers. "Fancy seeing you here." The devil's epitome stands proudly in the center of the room with a glass of whiskey in hand.

"Wow, psycho much?" I mutter sarcastically.

"Sorry for taking a long time," my deceiving ex apologises. "She gave a huge fit." He nods his head in my direction.

"I expected that." Luther nods. "But next time, don't make me wait too long..." he threatens.

"Yeah, whatever." Tristan shrugs.

"Please give the lady and I some privacy." Luther asks, more like commands, everyone in the room, who in turn, obey... except one person.

"Tristan, you as well."

"As much as I brought her here, I deserve to stay."

"Very well." The devil shrugs and drinks the whole glass of whiskey.

"This ought to be interesting." I mutter under my breath.

"Anyway," a loud clap of hands grabs my undivided attention, "-- so you already know why you're here, don't you?" He asks rhetorically.

"You're going to tell me anyway." I roll my eyes.

"Watch your eyes or else they might fall out," he states. "And you're right-- I am going to tell you anyway."

Que another eye roll.

"You see, Henry and I go way back. Since university might I add." His explanation begins while pouring another glass of alcohol. "We became brothers, a family, and we depended on each other for everything. We trusted each other like our lives depended on it."

"So when he found out that I was dealing with drugs and was a wanted criminal, he was angry that I kept him out of the loop, but nonetheless forgave me, later joining me. Years went by and I fell in love with the most beautiful woman who dared to walk upon this earth.

So one day I thought that it'll be a good idea to introduce him to my brother. Months passed and I realised the woman I loved didn't love me but in fact loved my best friend."

My eyes widen at the sudden revelation of the other man in the photograph I found earlier.

Seriously? Who else fell in love with my mo--

"Monica Rose was her name."

Oh. Nevermind.

Then it hits me. I remember Tristan asking Henry about her, and Henry confirmed that he was indeed in love with a Monica Rose.

But a fire killed her, and rumors flew saying that someone had allegedly started it. Someone who wanted revenge. The police searched but never found the perpetrator and the case was later dismissed.

And now everything adds up...

"You killed her..." I breathe out loud enough for him to hear.

He confirms with a nod.

"But why?" I ask.

"Because she still loved the person who betrayed me even after hurting her." He seethes with bitterness. "Turns out Henry loved another woman as well..." he takes a swig of the crystal brown alcohol.

"Who?"

"Your mother."

.................

Cliffhanger!

This chapter was supposed to be the last but it was going to be too long so I decided to write another one, which is the last chapter before the book ends.

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