Chapter 163: Chapter 163

DEMI

"Yes, uncle Marcel, I am fine. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just needed a few days to myself. I had a lot of thinking to do. I’m sorry I got you worried."

Anna almost drops the serving tray in her hands when she spots me entering the honey pot. I wrap up my call with my uncle just in time to accept her embrace. She quickly grabs my hand and takes me outside. We go around the back.

"Anna, are you sure you won’t get in trouble for taking an unsanctioned break?" But all she does is pull me into a longer hug.

"Where have you been, Demi? How could you scare me like that? It’s so unfair. Tell me now, was it your in-laws that detained you? Was it Liam? Why didn’t you call once?" She continues to bombard me with questions without giving me a chance to answer them. I grab her shoulders and shake her.

"I’m fine, Anna. Look at me! I’m really fine. I’m sorry I scared you. That won’t happen again. "I flash her my pearly whites. "I JUST CONCLUDED MY DIVORCE. Ashley and I are DONE."

A big smile tugs at her lips. "Really?"

"Yeah."

She hugs me again. "Are they going to make it public? The people have to know so they can stop associating you with the Rollins especially now."

"I don’t mind informing the media myself or living through whatever backlash might come with that. I’m just glad that sham marriage is all over."

Anna dims her eyes. "So, what’s next? What’s with you and Ashton."

The sound of his name nearly shatters my resolve to go ahead with my new life being unpredictable to even the closest people around me. I grit my teeth when I recall the response he gave to his family when asked about us. I know he’s trying to protect me from his family by pushing me away. I just wish he hadn’t usurped the position of being the decision maker about MY life and what’s best for me.

At the very least, he could have asked me first and respected whatever decision I took regarding us. He shouldn’t have made me feel like the family’s distrustful enemy.

"That’s over too, Anna. I’ve decided that romance isn’t worth putting my head on a chopping block for. I just got my freedom back. I’m not about to ruin it by bonding myself to another brother, to the same sick-twisted family that oppressed me for months. That would be insane, especially now that their secrets are coming to light." I scoop some hair out of my face and pace a bit. "Speaking of secrets, Liam’s been awfully silent. That can’t be good. I wonder what he and Skylar have planned."

"Skylar?" Anna reiterates. "Who’s that?"

Right. She has no clue. Best to leave her out of it too before she’s roped in like I am.

"Oh, no one of consequence." I shrug before texting Liam. I need to know his plans with Skylar. They had sent Cree all the way to my uncle’s place to threaten me. I’m certain they’re not just going to let me off the hook for going radio silent on them for over twenty-four hours. I need to know they aren’t nursing plans to make my loved ones suffer just to punish me.

Liam calls me almost immediately.

"Where have you been?"

"In Danvarr but I needed some time to finalize my divorce for good."

over. We need to talk." The call ends. I assure Anna that she’s got nothing to worry about before leaving her restaurant. On the

to say about your family’s crimes

husband truly responsible for the death of Tobias

to stick by your husband in

squint as the cameras continue flashing in my

are officially divorced. You can just call me Demi or

about the baby? Are you two settled on

lost the baby a while

the death of your

can you ever forgive them? Did you accidentally miscarry because of

I have parted ways. That’s all

plow through the wall of limbs and cameras because they wouldn’t

I arrive at Liam’s house two hours later, he’s watching me on TV with a blank expression on his face. I scan the living area but can’t find Skylar. Is she not around today? The last time we had spoken, she had used Liam’s phone so I had assumed they were together at the time. Was she

off

"You’re late."

won’t stop hounding me after I

really done? You’re no longer fettered

it. I already spoke with her over the phone. In fact, she and

she wants to see you, she will. You don’t call the

she also convince you to go down this rabbit hole of revenge the same way you convinced me to go after the family that was connected to

like you didn’t already have plans in place to exact your revenge one way or another. If I hadn’t stepped in to steer you correctly, you’d have been caught long ago by the Rollins family and maybe your body would have been

Skylar’s apparently. And now when I choose to back out of this ridiculous revenge scheme, you two are conniving to use me as a scapegoat. How are you any less guilty of the very same thing you’re accusing other people for? You’re lying, manipulating and

"SHUT UP!"

from his tightened fist. "I didn’t call you here to question me. I don’t need a moral compass, Demi. Save your lectures for that rotten family. I know

staff who tries to tend to his hand, grabs the towel from her and wipes the blood himself.

grabs me by the tail of my hair and pulls

hurting me. Please,

more." He shoves me head first into a dimly lit room with

man is roughly tied up like an animal

through that makes him barely recognizable, I instantly deduce his identity. That lush gold mane will

ASHAL!" I rush forward and cradle his head. I deduce as much because I am certain that he was the only brother noticeably absent before I left the Rollins mansion.

had no right! Even if you have a bone to pick with him or his family, there are proper channels to go through. This is illegal

the ropes

didn’t see the welts on your wrist. How could you defend the same people who had

you know that?" Then it clicks.

that mansion and even the HQ. If they

please. He doesn’t deserve

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