Christmas with My Enemy (Feuding Hearts Christmas)

Chapter 17

seventeen

TATI

“Look at you? You look stunning.” Mom speaks with admiration in her voice.

Humans lie most times for selfish reasons, but you see an inanimate object like a mirror doesn't lie. No, they have no reasons to do that.

Judging from the sullen expression on my face, I look like a prisoner about to face execution.

The makeup, wedding dress, and the fucking tiara on my head irk me.

"Why him?" Those are my first words since I was compelled into this house. Mom's hands are rested behind the chair I sat, and she's gazing at me in the mirror.

"After we lost your brother, your father was devastated. It hurts me to see him go through that. All he's doing is saving his only child. The man a woman marries can make or mar her life.

“The murderer is out there, and your father wants to protect you by all means. William is the only man we trust in this city. That might sound absurd, but that's the truth. Your father has too many enemies. And one of them is Nate's murderer. He might want to hurt you too. Does that make any sense to you?”

I shake my head. “It doesn’t make any sense that I’m suffering for Nate’s death. He’s killer’s out, so why not catch him, and throw him behind bars instead of making my life a living hell.”

I spin to look at her face. Her eyes are misty, and I feel sad for bringing up Nate’s death.

“I don’t mean to hurt you, Mom. But you and dad don’t care about my feelings. You don’t care if your decision hurt me.”

Now my eyes are misty too.

“You’re my mother, but you don’t understand me one bit. You care about your husband than you do about me. Why did you bring me to this world when you know you don’t love me?”

Mom shakes her head and covers her mouth with her palm, sobbing.

“Don’t say that. I love you.” Her voice breaks. “I love you so much. But this is beyond my power. Your father means a lot to me, and I can’t go against his wish. I don’t think now is the right time to explain what your father means to me.”

“The fact that you’re my parent doesn’t mean you can decide for me. For god sake I’m a twenty three years old woman. I consider this as an abuse, but I don’t expect you to understand my feelings because dad means so much to you.”

I speak with rage, hoping she’ll empathize with me, but no, she can’t go against her husband’s wish.

The door flings open, and my mother sniffs, wiping the tears with both hands.

“The boss wants to know if she’s ready.” One of dad’s guards speaks through the door.

“Oh, almost done. She’ll be out in a minute.”

"Okay." When the guards leave, she brings the diamond shoes near the chair. "I'm surprise your father still remembers little details such as your shoe size. He loves you so much, dear. I know you will appreciate it one day.”

I thought my pleas could change something, but nothing has changed in this house. Nobody listens to me. Guess, I have to take my life into my hands now.

“Can I eat something at least? I’m starving.”

“Oh, I’ll get you something.”

“Please, let me feel like a normal person today. I'll go to the kitchen myself.”

Mom is standing by the door with a sober look. “All right. Don’t mess up your make up. You’ll find some chicken soup, and cheese pasta in the kitchen.”

Some minutes later, I stroll outside with my Mom. Stacks is standing next to his car, wearing a smile that irritates me.

“Aren’t I the most fortunate man on earth?”

He sticks his hand out, and I lift my gown to hide the small knife I took from the kitchen. My aim was never to eat.

I’m walking towards him, gazing at the best place to attack him. In an instant, I take his hand and twist it backward, choking him with my elbow around his neck. I point the knife at everyone in front of me.

"I will slice his throat open if anyone comes at me." I set the sharp knife on his throat. At this point, I don't know what I'm capable of doing. One thing is sure, if anyone gets in my way, that person will be sorry.

“No you can’t do this.” Stacks’ voice quivers, but I coil my elbows tighter around his neck.

“Shut the fuck up, you bastard. I’m about to make you the miserable man on earth right now.”

"Are you out of your mind?" Dad's eyes are about to jump out of their sockets.

“Yes, and it all your fault. You’re the most selfish parents have seen in my life. And I regret the day I was born into this house. I’m leaving this house right now, and I don’t want you to ever look for me. Forget you have a child, because just like Will, I’m dead.”

“Tati, drop the knife, please.”

Dad makes the stop gesture, inching close to me.

I shake my head like a deranged woman. “The time I listen to you is over. I pleaded but neither of you listened. You have no right to use that word.”

My voice trembles in rage.

While speaking, I take some steps back, walking past the fucking car meant to drive me to the wedding venue.

Just then, bullets begin to fly in the air, and everyone runs about in the garden. I'm not sure that's Beast since Dad has many enemies, but whoever it is just saved my life. I let go of Stacks, draw out the fucking shoes, and run out of the garden. But someone jumps on me, and we both land on the ground.

“You’re mine, you got that. I meant it when I said no one will have you except me,” Stacks barks with eye-bulging like a lunatic.

“I hate you!”

I yell, struggling to get out of his grip.

He pulls me up by my dress and smashes the butt of his rifle on my head.