She screams, throwing herself at me and clawing me with her long fingernails. I grab her arms and hold them behind her back while she struggles wildly. I don't give her the control she wants. Instead, I just push her back on the mattress, and she falls back, looking at me with pure hatred.
"You're alone now," I tell her. "There's no one left for you, Lily Anna. You drove us all away."
I walk away from her, my heart pounding with revelations, when she calls out one last time - a desperate plea, one last attempt at winning me over.
"I still love you, Dex!" She sounds desperate. Ugly. I look over my shoulder at her tear-streaked face. "I did it for us, Dex... I wanted us together, forever, the way it was supposed to be. Remember?"
"No," I spit out, slamming the door behind me. I lock it three times before leaning against the wood and slowly sliding to the floor with my hands in my hair.
Her confession shouldn't have come as a shock. She's unpredictable, always has been. But this... this makes her a true monster.
She lied to me for years. She took my family away from me. I should kill her. Before I leave Eden Falls, I should fucking shoot Lily Anna right between the eyes and toss her down the cliff she should've jumped off of years ago.
Or better yet, I should give her back to Emilian Oakes.
A smile lights up my face as I think of the possibilities. The guy may not be a murderer, but he's still a piece of shit. He'd destroy her - exactly what she fucking deserves.
When I pick myself up from the floor again, my mind is made up. I'm done taking care of her, done with the burden that is Lily Anna. She's on her own now, and I don't give a fuck what happens to her.
I close my eyes and remember the sweet moments. Her laugh, her innocence, her flushed cheeks. All lies. Little fucking liar. She's done now. She'll never hurt me again.
My thoughts fill with Pandora then, and my heart swells with emotion. Pride, yearning, need, want, desire. My cock hardens, my heart hurts. Butterflies swarm in my stomach.
I need to tell her the truth.
I need to tell Pandora Oakes I love her before it's too late...
Chapter Eighteen
Pandora
I'm saying goodbye to Eden Falls today.
Nobody knows but Lai, and I've sworn him to secrecy. I can't risk this going back to Dex - I'm certain he'd try to stop me before I so much as made it to the train station in town. There's one last thing I need to do before I leave Eden Falls.
I need to end this town's sick hierarchy that made me feel on top of the world and worthless at the same time.
At Lai's house, I've been given the luxuries I've become accustomed to - a gorgeous guest bedroom with an adjoined bathroom, access to the rest of the stunning villa and the promise that I'd meet Lai's stepbrother, Dion, that night at dinner.
Lai has opted to give me privacy, and I'm immensely grateful for it. I can't bring myself to deal with my own feelings just yet. I can't even think about Dexter without feeling sick down to my stomach. And Lai doesn't ask questions. He keeps a respectful distance, giving me room to breathe.
I get ready on my own in the guest bedroom that night. I put on a pretty dress and half-heartedly do my makeup to make sure I look presentable. My mind circles around them - Dex. Father. Minnie. My siblings. I wonder if I'll miss them when I leave. I wonder whether I still want Dex to come with me.
It's only been a few hours but I already miss him, and I hate myself for being so weak for the boy who hates me. I tell myself I'll give him another chance. Just one more. If he doesn't prove how he feels about me this time around, it's officially over.
Setting my hairbrush down with determination, I scrutinize my appearance in the mirror.
I look good. Good enough to make Dexter jealous when he finds out who I'm staying with.
With a self-satisfied smirk, I walk down the stairs to the dining hall where dinner will be served.
Lai isn't there yet, but I notice another shadowy figure standing by the curtains, staring out into the gardens with his back to me.
"Hi," I speak up. "I'm Pandora Oakes. You must be..."
He turns around sharply. Just like the rest of this town's inhabitants, he's ridiculously handsome. He towers above me. He's not muscular, but instead lean and dangerous-looking, with a chiseled face you could cut your lips on.
"Dion," he speaks up. "Dion Grayberry, Lai's stepbrother."
He extends a hand and I shake it. He holds my palm so hard I struggle not to wince.
"So you're the new Oakes girl," he mutters. "Better than the last one, by the looks of it."
I smile, secretly pleased with his Lily Anna aversion. "What was wrong with the last one?"
"Spoiled little bitch." He waves his hand dismissively while I drink in his features some more. He really is painfully good looking. "Didn't care for her one bit."
"Good," I reply resolutely. "I can't say I do either."
He smirks and motions for me to sit down. I feel nervous without Lai there but I do as I'm told, sitting to his left. He watches me closely as the maids fill our glasses with drinks.
"You look nothing like her."
"Good," I repeat. "I don't want to."
"But you do kind of have the same attitude."
"Excuse me?"
"See?" He laughs. "Right there. A little brat, just like that intolerable girl."
"I'm not a brat." I lean back in my chair, glaring at the guy.
"You definitely are. You know... my brother talks."
I flush, looking away just as Lai saunters into the room. The brothers greet each other with a slap on the back and Lai sits down in front of me.
"So, you met the girl," Lai says. "She stole everyone's heart."
"And their mind too, it seems," Dion replies with a pointed look at his brother before returning his attention to me. "Lai here can't shut up about you, Pandora. Now I can understand why."
We're served our first dish and I'm grateful for the distraction. Curiosity gets the best of me though, and as soon as the maids are out of earshot, I start to speak up.
"So... I don't know anything about Lai's family."
"You're not the only one," Lai mutters bitterly. "I'm supposed to find out when I turn twenty-one. When I get my trust fund."
"But you're related to Araminta?"
He nods. "Somehow, at least."
"And Dion as well?"
"Yes," the older brother replies, shooting me a pointed look. "And I think that's enough questions for tonight."
I stare him down, feeling the weight of his gaze. He doesn't back down, and finally, I'm the one to look away. I feel his triumph emanating from the left where he's sitting.
Lai's family makes me wonder... Dion is older, likely in his mid-thirties, and he looks different than the rest of the Eden Falls boys. More experienced. Harsher. Like life wasn't gentle with him, and it made him rougher in all of his exchanges.
Ashamed, I realize I'm getting turned on by the image of this man who doesn't let anyone intimidate him. I cross my legs righter and hope no one notices.
"Anyway," Dion sighs, drinking a long sip of wine. "I'm only here this week. I'm leaving for Stormcliff this morning, indefinitely."
I nod at his words. Stormcliff is the main city close to Eden Falls. A lot of the bigger companies have offices there.
"But what about Lai?" I finally ask. "He'll be here by himself?"
"He can take care of himself," Dion smirks.
I sneak a look at Lai. For the first time ever, I see him looking almost vulnerable, like he's about to say something. But a moment later the softness disappears, replaced by jagged, harsh edges.
"Don't worry about me so much, Pandora," he grits out. "Don't you have your own shit to deal with? Like the situation with Booth?"
I glare at him, trying to silently remind him not to talk about it, but it doesn't seem to be working.
"That's true," Dion muses. "What are you even doing here, girl? Aren't you Dexter's fiancée now?"
"Oh, you have, have you?" Dion laughs. "Well then, we've had quite enough of you too. Unless you're inclined to share, you will be gone by tomorrow evening."
"Excuse me?" I ask.
"Dion, I..." Lai glances nervous between his brother and me. "It's not your place-"
"No, Lai," Dion smirks. "It's not your place. And if I say she can't stay here, she can't fucking stay here. Got it?"
Lai is pissed off, and so am I.
"No worries," I hiss. "I can take a hint."
I walk out of the room with my head held high. It takes everything in me, and as soon as I round the corner, I lean against the wall and exhale, feeling my chest rise and fall with panicked, shallow breaths.
I hear their conversation go on as I try to catch my breath, and I listen in guiltily.
"Why do you have to be such a fucking tool to my friends?" Lai hisses.
"You know why," Dion tosses back. "Do you really want to make room for another Lily fucking Anna?"
"She's nothing like her. Nothing."
"I see quite a few similarities, actually. Namely the one where they both had you fucking whipped, Lai."
"You don't know shit."
"Tell me you don't love this one too, then." Silence follows, tensions heavy and thick in the air. "You can't, can you? You fell in love with another one of your best friend's women. Lily Anna first, and now this Pandora girl. For shame."
"I don't need to listen to this," Lai hisses.
I rush toward the staircase to avoid him, tripping over my own feet in an effort to get the hell out of there. I reach the upper floor when I hear him call out from below.
"Pandora." I look over my shoulder, my eyes on Lai's. "Did you hear any of that?"
I don't reply, standing frozen with my hand on the bannister.
"It's true," Lai grits out. "I do. I love you."
I can't move. Can't say a word. My heart beats wildly as I watch him wait for my reaction. I don't give him one, because I don't know what it's supposed to be. Finally, he gets tired of waiting. Taking his eyes off me, he leaves down the hallway.
It takes me several long minutes to return to the guest bedroom. I can't even begin to think about Lai's confession - I still need to figure out what I'm going to do tomorrow.
I want to go back to Dexter's house.
The realization hits hard, and I groan, knowing I'll have to swallow my pride when I return to the Booth Manor.
But at the same time, I know it's what I want. I want Dexter. I want to leave this town with him.
Tomorrow at school, I'll ask him to come with me.
Together, we'll leave Eden Falls in the dust.
***
As I walk into the school that morning, I feel even more exposed than usual. There are lingering gazes on me. Whispers are being passed around as I make my way through the hallways. I know something's up before I even make it to my first classroom of the day. But as soon as I do, my hand flies to my mouth and I stare in shock at my own image. The picture Dex took - it has to be. It's been blown up in ridiculous detail, pasted all over the classroom. It's on the blackboard, on the walls. It's everywhere. Audra strolls past me then, with a sickeningly sweet smile, passing out more copies of the lewd photograph.
"Got a text this morning," she purrs when she bumps into me. "Dexter sent this over. I thought I might as well share."
I'm horrified. I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole, but the relief doesn't come, just the horror of being so utterly exposed yet again.
Lai is not in this lesson and neither is Dex. I can't bear another second in that stuffy classroom, and I turn on my heels, running away.
I don't stop until I've made it to the girls' bathroom on the first floor. I look myself into the last cubicle, feeling hot tears blurring my vision.
I can't believe Dexter's betrayal.
After everything that's happened... after everything he's done for me - to me, he did this. The knife in my back twists and I retch over the toilet bowl, emptying my stomach. I sit down, shivering as I hear the door open and someone comes into the bathroom.
"She's not even that pretty." The sound of running water and giggling follows. "God, can you imagine being such a slut that you'd let someone take those pictures of you?"
"What did you expect?" the other voice wonders out loud. "She's not Eden Falls material. Never belonged here, anyway."
With a scowl, I put my bag over my shoulder and open the door. The two girls doing their makeup in front of the mirror freeze as I saunter between them, washing my hands and face in the sink.
None of us say a word, them being too scared to look at one another and me not wanting to give them a second of my time. Once I'm done, I smirk and leave the bathroom. As soon as the door closes behind me, I hear them going at it again, gossiping and spreading more rumors.
Let them fucking talk. I'll have my revenge.
I go back to my locker. The hallways are deathly quiet because the lessons have already begun. I stash my school bag in the locker and take out another bag, a weekend one that I've packed with my essentials in case things ever got too bad at the Oakes Estate and I needed to make a run for it.
Dex and I had discussed leaving together. We'd talked about leaving all of this behind. But I never should have trusted him. He was never looking out for me.
Now, my bottom lip wobbles as I think about leaving by myself. I'll be all alone, just like when I first got to Eden Falls. But Dex doesn't deserve better. He wanted to get rid of me. Why else would he send that private photo to Audra?
I hesitate before pulling out the stack of printed out papers from my locker. But it has to be done.
They're pages from Lily Anna's diary, all the vicious, dirty secrets written in her handwriting and revealing these people for who they truly are. They may be Firstborns, but they're really nothing but monsters. Monsters that killed Lily Anna first, and did their best to destroy me second.
As I began walking out of the school, I allow the cathartic moment to take over. I let the papers fall all over the hallway. Pages for every one of these people Lily Anna knew litter the floor. This is going to break them. These secrets will bring Eden Falls to its knees.
And I have no regrets left.
Chapter Nineteen
Dexter
It isn't until the day's second class that I find out about the photo.
Pandora, my sexy little toy, sprawled out in the most private moment, for everyone to see.
By then, it's too late.
The hallways are strewn with photocopied pages from Lily Anna's diary, and Pandora is long gone.
I corner Audra in the hallway outside the gym, towering over her as I cage her against the lockers.
"Dex," she manages breathily. "What do you-"
"Where did you get that photo?" I hiss. "I know it was you who did this. Don't even try to fucking deny it."
"You..." She bites her lower lip. "You don't fucking remember?"
"Tell me!" I punch the locker next to her and she cringes away.
"God, Dex! You texted it to me! Don't you remember? It was you, Dex!" With shaky fingers, she scrolls through her phone and shows me the text. And there it is, with my name as the sender. The photo of Pandora I took when I fucked her.
"I didn't send that," I mutter. "Impossible. Im-fucking-possible."
"Well, someone did," Audra rolls her eyes. "And who else could it be? You live alone, Dexter."
Except I don't.
And I suddenly know exactly who did this. The only person who's capable of this shit - the one who wants to punish me, whatever the cost.
She was capable of killing two innocent people in the name of her sick love.
She won't stop now.
Lily Anna will keep hurting me and the people I love until she gets her way.
I jog away, my hands forming fists as I race down the hallway and into my car. I
screech out of the parking lot. I don't even give myself a moment to sift through the diary pages that have sent the school into a frenzy, because I'm too busy hunting down the girl who made this whole mess.
But with those pages being revealed... it means the end of our world, at least in some ways. It will show everyone none of these people are as special, as sacred, as fucking innocent as they've led everyone to believe. The diary makes us all seem... human.
I groan out loud.
I will deal with Lily Anna too, when the time is right. She'll pay for sending that text to Audra. She'll pay for everything. But first, I need to find Pandora. I need to find her before it's too late. Before she's left town for good, leaving me behind in the dust.
Racing to the train station, I reach it in a record of twenty minutes. The whole time, I'm stressed as fuck, sweating and cursing out loud. I leave the car running and run off to the platform. I know Pandora left to see her mother. I know she saw that photo circulating and thought the absolutely worst of me. She thought I betrayed her again. Finally, now that I'm coming to terms and accepting my love for her, it's all over.
Again.
There's only one train leaving for North Haven today, and it's leaving in ten minutes.
I reach the platform, scanning the crowd for any sign of her. I rush past people, pushing them aside, looking them up and down. No fucking luck. I run on the train next, pushing past people who curse and yell at me, not giving a shit. I see a brunette from the back, grab her shoulder, startle her. It's not Pandora.
I make it through all the carriages and she's fucking nowhere to be seen.
I have to accept it. She's not on the train.
I manage to get off before the train pulls away, sitting on the platform with my head in my hands, kicking at the ground. She got away. She ran away from me. She left me. I'm alone. Alone again.
What happens next feels like a trance.
Somehow I get out of that train station.
Some-fucking-how, I end up at a house party of one of the rich kids in Eden Falls. Someone I used to compare myself to, my competition - without the status. It's been a long time since then.
A Hurt So Sweet: Complete Dark Bully Romance Series Box Set: Elite of Eden Falls Prep Page 46