Revenge is All I Want

Ammie's POV 

Jamie stalks out of the VIP section that we were in and meets up with me.

" What's the money for?" There was amusement in his voice. Funny, the cold Barrington heir finds being paid funny.

I had thought giving him the money would make him angry and maybe end the engagement. Well, I never once considered ending my engagement with him would be easy.

If money doesn't, probably taunting would do the trick after all, people have done less and had their lives ruined in my past life. " For the services, Mr. Barrington."

" Pay more." Simple and always curt. He says nothing more. He had always been this way.

" You don't deserve more." That should hurt right? He is, after all, the richest man in S city.

" Let me take you home," he said, ignoring me, his voice softening slightly. "My driver is outside." My taunts didn't work. Why is this guy such a hard rock to crack?

I hesitated, thought of ways to decline his offer, but his insistence was clear. "I don't want to be a bother." 

"It's no trouble," Jamie insisted. "I'm not letting you take a cab. It's obvious, you didn't bring your chauffeur. And you are still a bad driver, so you didn't bring a car." Longest words ever.

 Both in my last lifetime and this one. I wanted to ask him why he is acting differently. Why is he showing interest? Instead, I bit hard on my inner cheek to stop myself.

Seeing his determination, I finally agreed. "Alright, thank you."

We exited the club, the night air cool against my skin. The drive was enveloped in a heavy silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts about what had just transpired. Or maybe, I am just the only one thinking about what just happened between us.

The city lights and its people blurred passed us as I tried to make sense of the madness of emotions Jamie had stirred within me.

Oh, Ammie. What are you doing? Don't forget he chose your cousin countless times over you. I could feel tears pricking my eyes as the past swept through my head.

Jamie's car pulled up to the mansion that belonged to my family. The stupid extravagance of the place always struck me as both impressive and suffocating. 

As Jamie helped me out of the car, his care, obvious. However, I don't know if it concerns me or… 

The mansion's luxurious decor seemed to fade into the background as I focused on the intensity of Jamie's gaze. I tried to read his expression and as always, I couldn't. Ever so mysterious. I sighed.

Once inside the foyer, Jamie's voice cut through the heavy silence. "When next you want to go out alone, call me," he said, his tone firm yet oddly tender. 

I was stunned. This guy is scaring me. The Jamie of my past life had been a cold and distant figure, unaffected by any of my attempts to bridge the gap between us. His sudden show of care was bewildering and jarring.

I could only nod in response, my thoughts a tangled mess as I entered the house. 

The moment I stepped inside, my father's hand struck my face with a sharp slap. The sting burned, disorienting me and flooding me with pain and humiliation. His anger, evident through the air as I fought to steady myself. 

Anger and shame at myself for not seeing that coming grips me. I clench my fists. I raised my head and met his hateful gaze.

"You are a disgrace to this household!" my father yelled, his tone sharp and judgemental.

Every gaze locked on me, maids and servants standing motionless. Some looked pleased and even whispered among themselves.

My mother's eyes were cold with disdain, while Lizzie's subtle, pleased smile revealed her satisfaction. 

Their disgust surrounded me, and I instantly knew Lizzie was behind this.

Jamie, having witnessed the scene through the partially open door, stormed into the house, his rage unmistakable. 

"Didn't I make myself clear?" Jamie's voice was icy, each word precise and hateful. 

My father's face turned pale, and he stammered, "Jamie, I…"

"Don't stutter," Jamie cut him off sharply. "You know exactly what you've done."

Lizzie stepped forward, holding up a series of photographs. Jamie's gaze fell on them, and his expression darkened further.

 The images showed me with Jack at the Dreamer's Club, holding hands, and others of Jamie and me in the midst of our heated kiss. Though Jamie's face was covered, the compromising nature of the photos was clear.

"These are from tonight," Lizzie said, her voice dripping with false innocence, like she didn't know the damage she was about to cause. 

" Jamie," She whined. Her voice turned sweet. Acting like the white lotus " I know you're trying to protect her while she's out with someone else. She doesn't deserve you." wiping invisible tears with her hands.

Jamie's eyes flared with fury as he took in the images. "I was protecting her from you," he snapped. "And you…" He turned to my father, pointing at him. " How dare you lay your hands on her?!"

My father, visibly shaken, attempted to respond but faltered under Jamie's cold-blooded glare. "You will answer for this," Jamie continued, his voice low but filled with menace. "If you think you can get away from this, you're sorely mistaken!. "

The fear in my father's eyes was evident, and Jamie's presence was a force that left him trembling, it felt good seeing him shaken up.

The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension. The maids and servants had started retreating, the minute Jamie spoke up. And all I did like the stupid Carmel, I was, was watching. Too baffled to speak.

 Jamie's unexpected defense of me, his willingness to stand up to my father, was a stark contrast to the cold indifference I had known from him in my past life. It was too much to process all at once.

Unable to cope with the chaos and the sting of the slap I had just received, I felt a pour of fresh anger and betrayal. 

Driven by a surge of fury, I moved towards Lizzie and with every ounce of strength I had, I struck her hard across the face.

 The sound echoed sharply in the room, followed by gasps of shock that I chose to ignore. I didn't turn to see the reactions of my mother or anyone else present; I was too consumed by my own storm of emotions.

Without a word, I walked out, heading straight to my room. I needed to escape, to clear my head from the chaos that had erupted. 

Once inside my sanctuary, I collapsed onto my bed, seeking solace in the darkness and quiet. 

Angry tears poured from my eyes. All I saw once again was the laughing faces of my parents and cousin as they stood over me laughing while I struggled for my breath. Crying out for help.

He had been there and did nothing. Yet, now, he is acting sweet and kind. I cried until there were no tears in my eyes. I decided to close my eyes and sleep.

Sleep however, was elusive, even the refuge I desperately needed to process the evening's events and regain my composure abandoned me as well.