THE REVENGE

Chapter 4

Max?

She's getting married to Max?

I stare at her for like a minute. My heart is palpitating in my chest, and I'm trying so hard to hide the emotions flowing through me.

"You guys are getting married? I thought you were just... Just-"

"Having s*x? Not quite."

I swallow the lump in my throat before I force a small smile.

"I'm happy for you."

Tori raises an eyebrow.

"You are? Your face looks nothing like it."

I bite my lower lip when a surge of nausea flows through me. I'm staring at nothing in particular, waiting for the awful feeling to pass, but it doesn't.

I clamp my palm over my mouth when my stomach churns, then I bolt out of the dining area when I feel bile rising in my throat.

I run to my old room.

It's just by luck that I make it to the bathroom. I go on my knees, hastily pulling the toilet seat up, and I retch my guts out.

I keep my eyes closed, my hands on my knees, my mind on the bitter taste in my mouth.

I f*****g hate Tori.

And Max...

I burst into tears.

Fuck pregnancy hormones.

I shake my head as I sit cross legged on the sparkling floor. I'm not sure what exactly is wrong with me. I don't know why I'm crying, and I have no idea what I should do to stop it. Silent tears are just rolling down my cheeks and my body is slightly shaking.

She's getting married to him, so what? It's none of my business, and it shouldn't make me feel like s**t.

But it does.

And I hate that it does.

I lean over the toilet bowl, and I puke all over again.

"Cami?" Sam calls from the other side. "Are you okay?"

"Go away!"

"I need to talk to you."

"Not right now. I'm busy."

"Busy? In a toilet?"

I sigh soundly. Brothers are a pain in the ass.

I know he won't stop nagging so I pull my damaged self to my feet. I wash my hands, then I flash the toilet before I open the door.

"You look like hell!" My brother comments the moment he sets his eyes on me.

"Jeez! Thanks Sam."

"No, don't roll your eyes. You look awful. You have stains on your dress and your eyes are wet. A tear is streaming down your cheek, and guess what? It has a trail of makeup with it. You look a little bit like Annabelle."

"The creepy doll?"

"Yeah, but you're prettier. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You've been crying. I want to know what's wrong."

"To what end?"

"I can help."

"There's only one way you can help. Leave my room. I need to be alone."

"Yeah, that's totally gonna happen. I'm just going to leave my only sister in her old room, crying like a child and pretending that everything is okay." He slightly c***s an eyebrow. "What did Brent do to you?"

"Nothing."

"I know everything. I know that he doesn't like girls, and I know that he's been seeing Clay behind everyone's back."

My gasp catches in my throat.

"Sam-"

"I promised Krystal that I'd keep it a secret, so I'm not going to tell anyone else. Hey, Cam.. Don't. Please don't cry."

I burst into tears when he engulfs me in his arms. I press my face into his chest, and I sob like a one year old.

He doesn't say a word. He just holds me, his nose pressed into my hair, his strong arms engulfing me in the best hug I've had in a while.

Being married to Brent is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I was so focused on making it work that I didn't realize I was tearing apart. It's only after Sam hugs me that I realize I've been in the most toxic place on the planet for the last two months.

I need this sense of familiarity.

I need the security and the unconditional love that only comes with family, so I cling to Sammy like my entire life depends on it.

"Cam...hey, it's okay. You can stop crying now." He insists.

He sounds surprised. I've never been one to be clingy, especially to family members, and I've never broken down in my brothers presence before. Being the first born child means you have to be strong for your siblings, so my brother has never seen this broken side of me.

I pull back to look at him.

Ugh, it's so disrespectful when your younger siblings are taller than you.

"Krystal knew all along? I asked her, and she denied everything." I whisper amid the sobs rocking my body.

"Your makeup is ruined. You need to wash your face and get a change of clothes."

"I want to hear what Krystal knows about Brent."

He nods at the bed.

"Sit."

I walk backwards, and when the back of my knees touch the edge of the bed, I lower myself onto it. Sam sits beside me, and he eyes me almost pitifully before he talks.

"Krystal called me just before you showed up with Brent for dinner. She was crying, and she begged me not to say a word to anyone. She just wanted to talk to someone because her head was bursting and she did not want to keep secrets anymore."

"So she knew about Clay and Brent all along?"

"Remember when she ran away from home and she stayed over at Clay's for a few days before you found her?" I nod, so he continues. "That's when she found out. Clay was going to Fiji, and when he told me that, I asked if Krystal could stay over for a few days since his apartment would be unoccupied. He said yes."

"Did Clay tell you that he was going with Brent?"

"No, Cami. I wouldn't have kept that from you. He said that he was going with a girl. I asked to see her, and he showed me a photo of a random pretty chick. It's just tonight that I found out her name is April, and she was working for Brent back then."

A lone tear rolls down my right cheek, but I'm quick to capture it.

"I see."

"So I took Krystal to Clay's place, and that's when she found the evidence about Clay and Brent. Photos, sticky notes on the fridge that Clay forgot to dispose, and lots of cards. Birthday cards, anniversary cards, Valentine's day cards, love cards; all that crap. Brent apparently called her when Clay told him about the mess he left behind, and he warned her against breathing a word to anyone."

"What made her tell you today?"

"I insisted. She was distracted and crying, and she said that you were in bed all evening because you passed out. She was so sure that it had something to do with Brent, and she had no idea what to do to help you without getting into problems. She's just looking out for you, Cami. Don't be mad at her."

"I'm not mad. I'm bitter. So, so bitter."

"Did you know that Clay was gay?"

I shake my head.

"He never told me."

"I can't believe he'd do that to you. That little s**t lived in our house, and everyone here loved him and treated him like family, and this is how he repayed us? Sleeping with your husband? I'll find him, and I'll kill him for you."

"You can't confront Clay."

"Give me one reason why."

"I'll give you two. One, no one should find out about this mess. Not even our parents. You have to act like you know nothing. And two, I got this. I have it all figured out, and I know exactly what to do about Clay. All you have to do is trust me."

"Are you going to use dad's lawyer for the divorce?"

"I'm not going to divorce Brent. At least not yet."

"Are you f*****g kidding me? He's been cheating on you with your best friend!!! What else do you want to go through before you leave him? Is he blackmailing you to stay with him? Is this about the money that his parents gave-"

I lift my hand to cut him off.

"I'll divorce him when I'm ready. Until then, please stay out of this, and try not to tell anyone. I'm fine and I'm trying to have my s**t together. Believe me."

He sighs, then he nods.

"If you need me, just give me a call."

"Thanks Sammy."

He eyes me calmly before he gets off the bed.

"Wash your face, Camille. You look like crap and snot."

I wait until he's out of the door before I lie back in bed. I can't remember a single moment in life that I felt so desperate.

Problem is, I'm not sure what I'm desperate for. Love, attention, vengeance or finding my freaking baby's father.

Where would I even start with the last one?

My life is fifty shades of messed up right now.

"Cami?" Noah calls as he walks in.

I quickly sit up, wiping my tears and faking a smile. I don't want all my little brothers to know that I'm not the strong sister I'm supposed to be. I don't want them knowing that I'm a crybaby.

"Hey, Noah?"

"Clay called. He wants to talk to you."

Wow! The audacity. What does he want to tell me? That 'our' man only likes one of us, and that's obviously not me?

I shake my head.

"I can't talk to him right now. I have to shower and change and-"

"I'm sure it won't take long. He sounded rather desperate."

"Noah-"

He pushes the phone into my hands.

"Come on. It's Clay we're talking about, and we all know that he loves you. Don't break his little heart. Oh, and Brent's parents are here already. His mom is asking about her precious daughter in law."

I sigh heavily. If only Noah knew..

I take the phone, and I wait until he's gone before I press the phone to my ear.

"What." I say in the most condensing tone I can master.

"Cami, can you please spare me a minute? I need to explain."

"No, you don't. You owe me nothing. We're not family anymore, so feel free to keep your explanations to yourself."

"I know you're hurting."

"No, I'm not."

"Then why are you doing this? Why are you acting like everything is okay when we all know that our lives are a s**t show at the moment?"

I press my thumb into my aching temple.

"Because I'm pregnant, and pregnant women are wild things."

The little gasp from the door makes me turn around.

And my jaw clutters to the floor when I find Brent's Mom standing there, her glinting eyes narrowed with an epic smile.