Chapter 5

SKY POV

If I were to choose, I would rather take part in a diabolic rat massacre than be cramped in here with a lump doing gymnastics in my throat, feeling all of the judgment and hatred cast towards me by literally, everyone.

This reception was far worse than what I had hoped for, heck. It was the worst ever. Because all of sudden, it had turned into some sort of business elites banquet of which 98% of them, were once Samantha’s servants. By servants I mean they all worshipped her. So you can just imagine my situation. I hated it, all of this. I didn’t want to be here.

“You are the most saddest bride I have ever seen in all my life.” Cassie’s voice said behind me, and I turned to find her there with 2 wine glasses in her hands.

“Am I that obvious?” I asked with a cringe, and she returned it with a small smile before handing me the other glass of wine. I accepted it and took a good swig before refocusing my attention on the crowd buzzing in the lobby of the Smith's manor. I spotted my mom and dad talking with some guys, laughing out so gracefully and patting Kayden here and there from time to time. It didn’t take an idiot to figure out they were the happiest in-laws ever.

“I told him that there were ways to acquire CA, except this one. But he didn’t listen.” Cassie sighed defeatedly before taking a drink from her glass. Yeah sure, no one wanted the hated daughter as their daughter-in-law. I get that!

“But you’re the only heir to CA, and honestly, your parents don’t trust you anywhere near their company so the idea of handing it over to you is absurd.” She chuckled, her eyes glued to where mine was. 

Thanks, mama for reminding me that my own parents would choose a stranger over their own flesh and blood, within a heartbeat.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just sat there and let her do the talking. She seemed to be having a lot to say to me, and if she was also inclined on making me miserable, we might as well settle the scores before we proceeded any further. 

“Kayden is… he is ambitious. He had this ‘I am conquering the world’ shit fixed in his mind that he would rather subject himself to a life full of sadness, as long as he makes it takes him to the top. No mother wants that for their kids.” “He is lucky to have you as his mother. I can see you loved him very much.” I said, and I meant it.

“Your parents love you too, you know that.” Well, that's like the craziest thing I have ever heard. I scoffed and shook my head slightly. She knew nothing, this one.

“They are just hurting.” She mumbled, but I heard her vaguely. “All of them are. Kayden, your parents, even Arthur hasn’t gotten over the death of Samantha.” Yeah right. Yaaaay indeed.

Her hand suddenly shot up and covered mine which was on the table. I looked at it like it was some alien tentacles before looking up at her with a shocked expression. She gave me a small smile and nodded her head once.

“I want to remind you that it was not your fault, Skylar. You didn’t cause your sister’s death and it is absolutely wrong for everyone to put all the blame on you. Her days were numbered so, and her time on earth was over. There was nothing we could do to change that. There are things were can change, but others, we can’t.” Whaaaaaaaaat?

“You think so?” I didn’t realize the tears had escaped my eyes until she wiped them with her hands, and then cupped my cheek lovingly. Is this how it felt? A mother’s touch, was it this warm? So full of understanding and love that knew no bounds? Because it felt unreal, almost like a dream.

“I know so. I know you loved your sister more than anything in this world. I know you would gladly trade your own life to have her back. But you can’t. And I am very sorry, Skylar, for all the unfairness you suffered, the insults, everything. I am very sorry.” That’s it. That did the trick. A sob retched itself from out of me and I choked on it because I was trying damn hard to suppress it. Cassandra pulled me in a hug and held me tight as I let all of it out.

Gosh, I have done much crying already and if I continued, I was going to run out of tears. I swear this week was crafted straight out of hell! 

But this, it felt so good, very relieving. The feeling of being understood, instead of being blamed, being told "it's okay", and the magical "it was not your fault". It made me feel whole again. 

If this was really how Cassandra was, then ladies and gentlemen, I have won a jackpot in the best mother-in-law of all the years.

Wanting to be away from all my problems and the ultimate source of them, I decided to take a little stroll in the gardens, plus I needed some good fresh air after all that crying. And I will admit it; the Smiths had the best gardens in the entire world. Was it all Cassie’s doing? 

The lawns were mowed neatly and the hedges were trimmed to perfection, sculpted into some various numerous shapes that gave you a little illusion of being in Wonderland.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of all kinds of flowers available in the garden, from Lilies to roses and all others that you may know. It was beautiful and therapeutic. I always found solitude and peace in sewing and designing, but this, I could really get used to it.

I spotted a little stone bench and went to perch myself at it, then stared out in the dark night. I was far from the manor, and I was loving it. I was far from all of my problems, and I wish I could spend the rest of the night just like this, unbothered. That would be the only perfect thing about my day, hell, about this becursed week.

I cursed myself for not bringing my phone because I would at least get a little moment with my stupid Diego. I missed him, and I wonder what he was doing with his Jack. That's right, even my best friend couldn't make it to my wedding because he was 'out of class.' Not my words!

“It is rude to leave the guests unattended at your own event.” There goes my little peace and quiet.

My heart leaped out of my chest as I looked to my right to find none but my nemesis standing there, towering over me with his hands shoved into his pockets. Couldn’t he just leave me the hell alone? Like seriously, couldn’t he just spend an hour, just an hour without getting all over me and making me feel shitty about myself and everything about me?

“You seemed to have that taken care of. I didn’t want to steal your limelight.” I retorted. KAYDEN WOLF, WAS A COLOSSAL PAIN IN MY ASS!

 “Weird, 'cause you are known for courting limelight by nook or crook. I mean you wouldn’t have killed Samantha if you didn’t want all the attention to be on you.” He spat, and I found myself clenching my jaws so tight, fighting tooth and nail not to spill what was right on the tip of my tongue.

“I did not kill my sister. The brakes of her car failed and she died in the accident. Deep down that rotten selfish heart of yours, you know it too.” I snarled with clenched teeth. 

“Oh yes, I do know that well. But what I do not understand is how would the brakes of her car have problems, right when she went out to get your gift? You knew she was going to use her car, and you wanted to kill her right there so that you can have everything that belonged to her. You killed…”

“Enough.”

“-her. You selfishly tampered with her car and it drove her down the bridge, killing her cold. You Skylar Candy Campbell are a murderer, a murderer of your own flesh and blood. How the hell do you sleep at night knowing that…”

“I SAID ENOUGH.” I lost it. At one point I was sitting down trying to keep my temper from brimming, and then next thing I knew I had my little palm against his cheek, eliciting a nice loud slap that rang through the night.

“I! HAVE! HEARD! ENOUGH! OF! YOUR FUCKIN’ ACCUSATIONS!”