The Heiress' Revenge-Chapter 41

A R I A N A

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, I was still feeling shaky from the kiss with Dante my lips were tingling and my whole body was still sore.

I stared at the empty bed where Dante had laid with me after our heated session as I reached for my phone.

I saw Raya’s name on the screen and answered.

"Ariana," Raya’s voice was tense, worried. "Gosh! I’ve been trying to get to you... you need to know what’s happening."

"What is it?" I asked, sitting up straighter.

"It’s the company," she said, her words coming out in a rush. "It’s falling apart, deals are being canceled left and right, Investors are pulling out and the stock price is crashing. Your father... he’s locked in his office, screaming at everyone and he has fired almost half of the workers. It’s a mess."

I listened, my stomach twisting into a knot, I knew this was Dante’s doing, this was his revenge for what my father did to me.

A part of me felt bad Melendez Corp was my family’s legacy it was the company I was supposed to run one day.

But a bigger part of me, the part that still felt the ghost of my father’s hand around my throat, knew he deserved it.

He cared more about this company than he ever did about me and he was losing it.

"Just... be careful, Raya," I said softly. "Don’t let him take his anger out on you and if you feel you can no longer take it, you can easily withdraw"

"Alright then... thanks"

We hung up I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling confused and sad.

Then my phone buzzed again but time, it was my mother.

I hesitated.

My mother never called me even after what had transpired she didn’t look for me, she always did what my father said.

She was scared of him, even when she tried standing up for me, she gets frightened by a mere glare.

I answered slowly. "Mother?"

"Ariana," her voice was quiet, nervous. "Can we meet? Please? There is something I need to talk to you about in person."

I was skeptical

What could she possibly want? Was this a trick? Was my father using her to get to me?

But her voice sounded so small.

So scared.

"Okay," I said finally. "Where?"

"The usual café In one hour?"

I agreed and hung up.

I didn’t know what she wanted but I knew I had to go she was still my mother, even if she had never acted like one.

And maybe, just maybe, she was finally ready to talk and end things with my father, vouch for a better life where she was valued and treated with respect.

I got out of bed, my mind still on the strange phone call with my mother, I was still skeptical on going but I had to.

I needed to know if she was okay.

My eyes cut a glimpse of a small, folded note on Dante’s pillow.

I picked it up his handwriting was strong and sharp, just like him.

"Meeting across town.... Will be back home for dinner... till then, don’t miss me too much wifey.-D"

A stupid, little blush warmed my cheeks he left me a note like we were a real couple.

Brushing that off, i got dressed quickly, choosing a simple dress and headed out of the mansion.

The ride to the café was quiet my stomach was in knots.

When I walked in, i saw my mother immediately.

She was sitting in a corner booth, her hands wrapped tightly around a coffee cup, she looked a mess her usually perfect hair was messy.

Her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

I slid into the seat across from her. "Mum."

"Ariana," she said, her voice trembling she reached for my hand, but I pulled it back. "Thank you for coming."

"What is this about?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

Tears filled her eyes. "It’s your father, the company... everything is falling apart Dante Russo is destroying him you have to talk to Dante You have to make him stop... Please, Ariana for your family."

I stared at her.

I couldn’t believe it.

After everything, she was asking me to help the man who has been nothing but a monster

"No," I said, my voice firm. "I won’t."

"Ariana, please—"

"Did you see what he did to me?" I interrupted, my voice rising I pointed to the faint bruise still on my neck. "He did this! He hit me! He told me he wished I was never born! You know how I’ve been keeping up with Dad’s bullshit for the past years and how whatever I do for him is never enough yet you still want me to help him?He deserves everything that is happening to him!"

My mother flinched, but she didn’t deny it sh just cried harder. "He is your father! He is my husband! We have to stand by him! No matter what he does it doesn’t change our positions in his life."

"Why?" I demanded, standing up. My hands were shaking. "Why should we? He is a monster! And you... you just let him do it! You never protected me! You never stood up for me! You should leave him! You deserve better than a man who hurts his own family!"

The words poured out of me, all the pain and anger from years of being ignored.

My mother’s face turned from sad to furious She stood up too, her eyes blazing.

"How dare you! You dare not talk about my husband like that" she hissed then her hand flew through the air.

SLAP!

The sound was loud in the quiet café.

My head snapped to the side.

A few people at other tables gasped and stared.

I touched my stinging cheek, too shocked to speak.

"You are just like your father!" my mother spat, her face twisted with hate. "Stubborn and selfish! You have destroyed this family! I wish I was never born into your family"

The words hurt more than the slap.

I looked at her, at the woman who was supposed to love me, and I felt nothing but cold emptiness.

It felt he was turning her into him, I still don’t undersand how she keeps up with his crap for all these years, none of this is making sense.

"No, mum," I said quietly, my voice shaking. "You and dad destroyed it a long time ago and I wish to never have to see you both disgusting faces" I spat turning away and walked out, leaving her crying in the café.