chapter two

I stayed at Mecca's place for a week because I wasn't ready to face my family yet.

" Claire you can't stay cooped up in my house forever you know"  mecca said worriedly

" I know that mecca" I said lazily

" You look so pale Claire, and you're burning up"

mecca said while placing her hands on my forehead.

I swatted her hand away and got up from the bed and walked into the bathroom.

"Claire! Claire!!" Yelled mecca

" Stop yelling mecca, I can hear you just fine" I said

" You need to come see this" she said furiously

"What is it" I said

I walked to the living room and mecca was glaring at her phone. My jaw dropped when I saw the article that had been released about me, the headline was scandalous and I knew my parents must be having a fit right now.

A picture of me kissing the guy I had slept with was at the top of the article, we were right outside the hotel room and his hands were all over my body. Memories of that night came rushing back and I tried really hard not to smile considering the situation I was in.

" I need to get home now! Mecca where are my car keys?" I asked

" No! don't take your car, the paparazzi will know it's you. Take mine instead" she handed me her keys and I drove home in a frenzy.

I turned my phone back on and the amount of messages and missed call I had gotten was more scandalous than the article.  I quickly texted my mom that I was on my way.

"Claire Elizabeth smith!!" My dad yelled the moment I got home. My whole family had gathered in the living room waiting for me.

" Dad I can explain" I said defensively

" Explain what Claire? How could you cheat on James" said Olivia

I gave her a death stare and she cowered into her shell.

" You of all people have no right to say that to me Liv" I said furiously

" Don't yell at your sister, she is not to blame" my mother said

" Of course you're gonna protect her, if only you knew what this bitch did" I said

"That is enough Claire! You should be thanking Olivia for saving this family!" my father yelled

A small smile crossed Olivia's face but she quickly hid it.

"Thank her? Why would I thank this she devil?" I said in shock

" You ungrateful child! How could you insult your sister in front of us like that?" My father yelled, his anger was rising and so was mine

"I'm always gonna be the bad guy aren't I?" I said with tears in my eyes. " You don't even want to hear my side of the story and all we've been talking about is what Olivia has done for this family, what about what I have done huh? I said at the brink of  tears.

I had sacrificed my dreams and goal of being an artist to study business because my dad had wanted me to while Olivia was out partying with her friends. At 23, I had already done my masters and was ready to take over my father's business right after my wedding with James, which my father had arranged against my wishes. But I had sucked up to it all because I wanted to please him. Nothing I ever did was enough for him.

" While you were busy whoring yourself like a prostitute and tarnishing our image, your sister had saved our family heritage and decided to take your place as James Perez's wife" my mother said

"What?" The shock was evident in my face. I felt like a cold bucket of water had been poured on me.

" Your sister has saved your father's business from bankruptcy. You should be on your knees thanking her for taking your place. Why can't you be like your sister claire?" My father said in disgust.

"Arnold perez  had threatened that he wouldn't sign the contract anymore and so I had to do something about it" she said innocently

Underneath her good girl act, I knew she was smiling. Hot white rage was boiling in my veins and I felt like clawing at her face, for the first time since I knew Olivia, I hated her.

" You all are idiots if you think that's what she did. Olivia was already fucking James behind my back mom. She was sleeping with my fiance!" I said in frustration.

SLAP!

I landed on the floor as my father's palm made contact with my face.

"You cheat on James and yet you put the blame on your sister. Don't you see what you have done wrong " my mother said

" I am ashamed to call you my daughter" my father said, his words were heavily laced with disappointment.

Olivia rushed towards me to help me up but the glare I have her made her stop in her tracks. Mecca had always said there was something evil about Olivia and I never really listened. Now I could finally see the devil inside of her.

" You can fool them but you can't fool me liv, I saw you and James that day " I said

The shock that was evident on my sister's face was a bit satisfying but it wasn't enough.

I had wasted my entire life trying to please my family, only now do I realise that they could never be pleased, at least not by me.

I got up from the ground. My white blonde hair was messy and my blue eyes were bloodshot red but I won't cry.

" I cannot believe that you both hate me this much. How can I have parents who are toxic" I said

"Go ahead and leave then!" My father yelled in anger and my mother's gaze softened at his words.

" You know what? That is exactly what I'll do" I said decisively

I went upstairs to my room and packed my clothes. I took my last step out of the place I had called home  my entire life.