Fleeing the Nightmarish Father novel Chapter 23

That was the whole point of our marriage, that I won’t bow to him. That I won’t give into hatred. I had accepted Jared was not mine.

I won’t turn back to him. I have taken a step forward in life.

I WILL prove it.

With my head high, having faith in myself, I walked and saw a silhouette which was not present in the corner.

‘Was someone.. There?’ I thought, narrowing my eyes in bewilderment. Praying that no one heard it or else I would bring me troubles.

When I saw, there was no one thankfully, “Must be my imagination.” Mumbling to myself, I shook my head to let out these thoughts and went back to the party.

The second I came out, Sarah popped from the crowd and grabbed my arm, taking me away leaving me confused at her rush.

“Saafia, there you are, come. Mr. Cannedy is making an announcement. He told me to get you.” She whispered, dragging me with her.

“What? What does he want to say now?” I scoffed.

But she didn’t listen and continued to take me away until we stopped at the stairs where he was standing to make a toast.

With a grimace fixed on my face, I put my hand on my waist, patiently waiting to hear what he wanted to show now.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I.. uh, I am not good with words.” He started, clearing his throat, chuckling in the middle.

Obviously an act.

“Some of you might see me as heartless too but finally, after a devilishly long time, I found who made me the man you are seeing now. Thank you for making me smile, for evoking kindness in me.”

“What the-”

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. He went too far with his demand. I knew he wanted to fake it to the world but….

Using me to clear his heartless image?

“In fact, thank ‘you’, Veronica, for cheating on me.”

AND taunting his enemies too. Frozen, I shivered when he walked to me, startling me slightly. I knew he was a self-centered man. I should have seen it coming.

“If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met the love of my life. Just because you left me for a measly man, my life found colors, I found my Saafia.”

He took my hand and pulled me forward. Hollow, I held the lapel of his coat, looking away from dejection while he observed my reaction with an impish smirk.

None of it felt good, it evoked nothing but disheartened feelings that he was using ‘everything’ possible for his advantage.

His world revolved around him only.

“Thank you, Darling, for entering my life and giving it a meaning. I love you.” He whispered, holding my chin in a tight grip.

Only for a show to the people.

The second his speech ended, people believed he had changed and became better as they started cheering on his ‘new’ phase of life.

“Woohoo!”

He was faking this world. It pricked an arrow through my chest. He was right about one thing- he would show me the side of the world I hadn’t seen.

Where people are selfish, arrogant, uncaring- all in one man.

Mentally scowling, I went after him, tugging on his sleeves.

“Sorry, I need him for a moment. ‘Darling’ could you please fix my dress?” I faked a smile.

Leaning down, his lips brushed against my ears, freezing my body.

“Don’t act ignorant. I will show you. For now, continue this acting because if this deal got out of my hands because of you…”

I could feel my energy leaving me when his body pressed slightly over mine when he announced.

“You will see my worst side.”

A deadly shiver went down my spine when he whispered dominantly, dangerously in my ears, scaring me to no extent.

With a tear pricking in my eyes, I tried to look away but he held my chin firmly, forcing me to stare back in his eyes.

“Now, act like a good wife and do as I order.”

Coldly wiping the tears in the corner, he ordered, tone softening slightly but it made me outraged. Growling, I slapped his hand away.

He only raised an eyebrow in amusement, “Oh?”

“You…” Hissing, I pushed him away from me, wiping the tears.

Realizing that he was an irrecoverable man and this marriage was pointless because-

“You are the worst person I have ever met in my entire life, Mister Dariel Cannedy.”

And he licked his lips seductively, chuckling, almost proud to hear that.

“Good.”

Lost in disbelief, my steps retreated, dying to be as far as possible from this man for the rest of the party.