THE REVENGE

Chapter 5

I've never really liked my mother in law.

My heart turned against her the very first day we met.

Now she just heard me confess that I'm pregnant, and I guess we all know how this is going to end.

She'll tell everyone, and boom! Everything will become one hell of a mess.

I take a deep breath as I hang up. It's a shocker that Clay didn't tell Brent that I'm pregnant. I mean, he tried to get me out of town just to have Brent all to himself, so I'm surprised he didn't tell him that I'm carrying an illegitimate child.

That would make Brent leave me in the blink of an eye, and that would work in Clay's favour, right?

My mother in law smiles at me.

"You two have been keeping secrets, huh? Brent didn't mention that you're having a baby."

"We're not having a baby. I was just pranking my friend." I manage to smile back. "It's good to see you."

"You're not having a baby? I'm having a hard time believing that. You've been married for a couple of months now, and Brent said that you've been trying. Sooner or later, I'd like to see some results."

"Why do you want grandkids so bad?"

"That's for me to know and for you to ignore. Your work is to produce those kids for me, so go on your back, or whatever style you prefer, and have my son stick a child inside you. Until then, no more pregnancy pranks." She starts to walk out, stopping at the door to look at me. "You stink, by the way. Take a shower or something."

I take a deep breath once she's gone. She's a horrible person and an awful mother.

She's the reason her grown son can't live the life he wants; the life he deserves. She's the reason he has to hide behind girls when he really feels nothing for them. She's the reason I'm in this mess to begin with.

If only she had allowed Brent to be himself, I'd never have gotten married to him, and I wouldn't be a vengeful, pregnant woman right now.

I slowly get out of bed, wincing when a wave of dizziness engulfs me as I sit upright. I wonder how long this feeling is going to last. I hate the headaches and the vomiting and the dizzy spells and the awful taste in my mouth.

I hate everything about being pregnant; and I hereby declare the first trimester the worst phase of every woman's life.

I get rid of my dinner dress and my shoes, then I stand under the cascading cold water in the bathroom. Hopefully, the cold will make me feel alive.

**

Everyone is at the dinner table when I finally exit my bedroom.

Well, except my brothers. I guess they're upstairs in their bedrooms.

I breath evenly when I spot Ryder seated beside Tori. The close proximity to her makes a wave of jealousy clog my heart. It's a clingy feeling that I don't like at all.

Tori is staring at him as he stares at me. I blink when our eyes meet, and I quickly sit on my spot beside Brent.

"I'm very sure you were in a dinner dress earlier." That's Mom.

I hastily clear my throat before I talk.

"I poured wine on it. I, uh, had to wear something else. Plus, I really like these jeans."

"I thought we agreed no more drinking?"

Did Ryder just talk to me?

I don't want to look at him. I don't want to talk to him. I don't want anything to do with him. Nothing he's doing right now sits right with me. He wouldn't tell me Brent's secrets when I asked, and now he's somehow getting married to my evil step sister.

So I ignore him. I get a plate and a fork, and I murmur a silent 'thank you' when Brent passes me the food.

I don't have much appetite. I'd very much like to skip dinner, but that would rouse plenty of eyebrows.

I wring my nose at the brown rice in my plate.

"Are you okay?" Tori, who is seated directly opposite me, asks me.

I push a piece of broccoli into my mouth before I look at her.

"I'm fine."

"You look like you're going to be sick."

"I'm fine." I insist.

"You're just pushing food around your plate." That's Brent.

"She's fine." Ryder mutters sternly.

I heave a sigh of relief when everyone leaves me alone. Ryder is the only person in this room who knows that I'm pregnant, and so far I've not regretted it. I hope it remains that way.

"So, Brent, how do you like marriage life so far? How is it like living under the same room with a pretty woman?" His mother asks.

Brent shifts uncomfortably.

"It's amazing."

"That's what I thought. You're taking too long to get her pregnant, though.'

My mom gasps.

"Hey, you can't say such things! Leave them alone."

"Leave them alone? They are a married couple! They're supposed to be sleeping together and having babies. One of them seems to be sleeping on their job!"

"Mom-"

"Don't Mom me, Brent. Just get the girl pregnant!"

I think this woman is crossing the limits. She's embarrassing her son in everyone's presence, and the son is doing nothing about it out of fear. I think Brent deserves more respect than she's giving him.

I dab my lips with my towel before I turn to fully face her.

"Has it occurred to you that maybe Brent and I don't want kids?"

"Did you just talk back to me?"

"Yeah, I did. What is your problem?"

"You think I have a problem?"

"Actually, I think you have issues, and you should find a therapist. Brent is a grown ass man. Stop being up his private life like that. It's pissing me off."

"Honey, I don't care if you're pissed off. Just get me some damn grandkids. I paid millions for that."

"If you want a big family, go and adopt some babies. Leave my husband and I alone."

"Are you drunk?"

"You think I'm drunk?"

"Cami-" Brent starts to stop me, but I cast him a warning glance. When he blinks with obvious fear, my heart tightens with a bit of compassion.

His own parents would happily let him suffer for not following their instructions. I'd rather see him suffer than seeing him like this; being stripped of all dignity while he sits there doing nothing.

I take his hand from underneath the table then I entwine our fingers.

"It's okay." I whisper to him. "I got this."

He eyes me uncomfortably as I turn back to his mother.

"You were saying?"

She sighs heavily. Her eyes are turning into a dull shade of red. She's so angry that her hands are literally shaking. I patiently wait for her to regain her breath, and in the meantime, I look around at everyone's expression.

My father is looking at me with a raised eyebrow. He's giving me the 'I don't know what the hell you're trying to achieve, but I'm sure it'll be worth it' look.

That man has always had insane trust in me.

My Mom is watching my mother in law with a straight face. Deep down, I bet she's dying to snatch the woman's wig. She doesn't like anyone disrespecting her kids.

My eyes widen when I look at Ryder.

He's watching me, a smirk forming on his sensual lips, and his expression screams one word.

Proud.

He's so f*****g proud of me for confronting my mother in law like that. His teeth chew on his bottom lip as our eyes meet.

And i swallow dryly when our gazes hold.

His eyes are like a magnet. I want to look away but I can't. I tighten my hold on Brent's hand as my eyes settle on Ryder's lips.

I imagine those lips all over Tori, and suddenly I'm in an awful mood. What is wrong with me?

"So, who wants dessert?" Tori's voice makes me tear my eyes away from him.

I literally can't breathe, and the son of a woman hasn't even touched me. How does he do that while he's seated all the way across the table from me?

"I want dessert." Brent is the first one to talk. I think he just wants the conversation to be over.

"Me too." That's his Dad.

"Cami, can you give me a hand in the kitchen?"

"Nope!"

"Cami!" My sweet Mom intercepts. "Help your sister."

"Her sister?" Brent asks, confused. "That b***h is Cami's sister?"

"That b***h is my daughter. Show some respect." That's my father, and he's getting worked up.

"No offense good Sir, but your daughter is the spawn of the devil. She's a manipulator and a murderer. She threatened cami's life on more than one occasion. She'll make your home nothing but a warzone."

"Brent, you need to calm down." That's Ryder. "Cami is fine, and everything is under control. Victoria is not bothering her anymore."

"And that makes everything that she did very okay, doesn't it? Her past is a clean slate just because you say so? What about the damage she caused? What about justice for the people she's hurt for absolutely no reason?"

"Absolutely no reason?" Tori demands, crossing her arms over her chest. "I do everything for a good reason. Anyone that I hurt had something to do with my brother's death."

"Andy is not even your brother. His life is not yours to avenge."

"But it is, Brent. His brothers are Gabriel and Max, and they're doing nothing about it. Someone has to get the balls and avenge that little sweet boy that was r***d by bullies to the point of killing himself!"

All the parents at the table let out small gasps.

"What are you talking about?" Brent's father demands. "Was Brent part of that?"

"Our son is not a r****t!" His wife fires back. "Plus, Brent likes girls. He'd never hurt a teenage boy like that."

Oh boy! Poor woman is still in denial about her son being gay.

Ryder sighs.

"Can this discussion end now?"

Brent shakes his head.

"No. I have something to say first."

"Brent, don't say anything stupid." Mrs Miller warns him.

He shakes his head.

"I can't live like this anymore. It's about time everyone knew the truth."