Chapter 78
“Shut up! You’re the last person qualified to say anything!” Tabitha snapped. “You’re nothing but a freeloading asshole, living off Zadie like a damn leech!“}
Then, as if something clicked in her mind, she pointed a furious finger at my parents and my grandparents too.§
“And you people–you’re no better!” she shouted. “A bunch of parasites–that’s all of you! Living off her, spending her money, and still daring to criticize what she does?!“}
With that, she swung the baseball bat and smashed one of Killian’s legs.§
He dropped to one knee, howling in pain, but still spoke up, defiant as ever.}
“I’m just telling the truth! Aren’t you even a little curious why all of us suddenly turned on her? Why do you think we’re treating her like this?” he said.
“Yeah, yeah! Girl, I get that you’re angry,” Valeraine chimed in. “But maybe just hear Killian out first?”
“Killian?” Tabitha raised her hand and slapped Valeraine across the face. Then again. And again. Over ten times in total, striking her with both hands until her arms were too tired to lift.
“You really are shameless! A damn mistress with no sense of guilt, breaking up someone else’s family and then waltzing right into their villa like you own it? Have you no shame at all?!”
No sooner had she finished than my family–all bruised and beaten–jumped to defend that homewrecker.}
“Valeraine is innocent! We won’t let you speak of her like that!”
“That’s right! If you want to hurt her, you’ll have to go through us first!“>
Seeing them stand united to protect her, Tabitha–who just moments ago didn’t even want to hear what Killian had to say–suddenly turned toward him with a gesture.
“Alright then. Tell me what was it you wanted to say?“>
When I heard that, I forced my foggy consciousness to focus, pleading weakly with her.
“Tabitha, please… Don’t listen to him. I don’t want to lose you too. I don’t have anyone left who loves me. I…”
She gave me a gentle, reassuring look and leaned in close to hear what Killian had to say.
I squeezed my eyes shut in despair, tears streaming down my cheeks.
It was useless. No one ever walked away unchanged after hearing that cursed sentence from Killian.
But strangely… I heard no brutal accusations from Tabitha.
I opened my eyes in surprise.
Tabitha’s face was filled with rage. But… it wasn’t aimed at me!}
She swung her fist at Killian’s jaw, knocking out two of his teeth in one brutal punch.
He looked as stunned as I was.
Clearly, he hadn’t expected anyone to hear that sentence he whispered and still stand by me.§
“Son of a bitch! What the hell does that have to do with Zadie?! That was over forty years ago! She was a baby! How could she possibly be responsible for any of that?!” she cried.”
“How is it not her fault?!” Killian argued. “If it weren’t for her, we never would’ve–“>
“Shut the hell up!” Tabitha cut in.
She punched him again, even harder the second time.”
“You’re all cowards! You’re all pieces of shit!” she shouted. “The ones who should be held responsible, you never had the guts to confront. Instead, you all ganged up on Zadie because she won’t fight back! Shame on you!”
“When you were out enjoying life on her money, why didn’t you say she was guilty then? But now that you know the truth, you turn around and suck her dry–and you even want to drag her and her unborn child down, too? You people make me sick!”
After wiping the blood from my face with a tissue, Tabitha gently picked me up in her arms and started to carry me out.
Just then, Wednesday, who had lagged behind, suddenly got grabbed.
Killian, limping heavily, rushed to whisper something in her ear.
Wednesday recoiled, wiping her ear with a look of pure disgust, then kicked him so hard he fell flat on the floor.
“What the hell is wrong with you?! Who told you to keep creeping up to people’s ears like that? And one more thing–talk to me like we’re friends and I’ll really beat you to death!”
She shot him a look of pure contempt and then quickly caught up to us.
Once I was sure she hadn’t been affected either, I finally let myself drift into sleep.
And I didn’t wake up again… for two full days and nights.
When I woke up, my whole body felt refreshed.
