A Hurt So Sweet Volume Two (Elite of Eden Falls Prep 2)

"He still needs to marry me," I mutter.

"We'll see if he still wants to," father groans. "You're ruined now. He can just as easily back out of the marriage."

Tears pool in my eyes and I fight the urge to ask for his empathy, kindness, anything to make me feel better. I know he doesn't have any to give.

"But he will still need an heir," my father ponders out loud. "So if we're lucky, he'll keep quiet about this until we figure out what to do."

The car pulls up in front of Oakes Estate, and he gets out of the limo with Kelley's help while I hesitate inside.

"Well?" he demands in a growl. "Are you coming, or do I have to drag your bratty ass back home?"

"But I'm... I'm naked," I manage. "Can't you give me something to cover up with?"

His jaw sets and he shakes his head.

"No. You got yourself in this damn mess, now suffer the consequences."

I get out of the car, the chill of the night air sending shivers down my spine as I regard my father with rage-filled eyes.

"Someday everything you've done will catch up to you," I tell him. "Someone will make you pay for all the bad shit you do."

"Sure," he laughs. "Everyone has a price, daughter. Even whoever would try to make me pay."

He marches me into the house.

The first one to see me is Tianna, who's standing in the hall arguing with my stepmother Bryony. She gasps, a hand flying over her mouth as she takes in the state I'm in.

I let out a sob as father marches me up the stairs. By now, Bryony's looking too, her cold eyes glaring at me as if somehow, this is all my fault.

He shoves me into my bedroom a moment later, and I stumble inside.

"Needless to say, the locks are going back on today," he tells me with a sneer. "Since you're not to be trusted."

"Please," I beg. "You can't let Dexter get away with this. He did this against my wishes. I never asked for him to... to..."

"To fuck you?" father asks coolly. "I should hope not, but you still let it happen, and that cannot go unpunished. Now think about what you've done. And do not tell anyone that you're no longer a..."

He gesticulates with his hand, his face contorted in disgust.

"Just don't talk to anyone about it," he finished coldly. "I'll fix this myself, since you're useless. And stay out of goddamn trouble!"

The door slams behind him, and sure enough, the lock clicks into place yet again.

Once more, I'm trapped.

Three

Dexter

My hands form fists at my sides in the car. I've done it. I've actually fucking done it. The first step of my revenge against Emilian Oakes has been completed. The plan has been set into motion. The vendetta is motherfucking on.

I smile to myself, but there's no denying the rapid beat of my heart in my chest. I'm thinking about her. Wondering what Oakes is going to do to my no-longer innocent toy now that she's let him down. I'm worried for her, even though I don't want to admit it. I know she's in big fucking trouble. But what's done is done - I can't change fucking her now. She'll just have to deal with the consequences.

Guilt cools my already frozen heart, a feeling long forgotten gripping me in its icy fingers. I shouldn't feel this way. I shouldn't give two fucks about Pandora, but I can't help it.

The driver pulls up in front of Booth Manor, and I tip him before getting out of the car. As soon as I set foot on the paved driveway, I know something bad has happened.

Anders is standing in front of the Manor, clutching his hand to his chest.