Chapter 329
Davina tried to keep her cool, but her nerves were a mess. She swallowed and asked, “What is going on? Why are all of you here p>
Her aunt practically barked at her. “Are you seriously asking us? You pointed us toward that woman, but you never said we couldn’t go into her company. Now she’s suing us. We have to sit here and wait for the court to decide. I’ve got a million things to do at home and the New Year is right around the corner. If people find out I’ve been in jail, how am I supposed to show my face in the village p>
Arms crossed, her aunt’s whole posture screamed confrontation, like she wasn’t just complaining, but ready to pick a fight.
“Auntie, that’s not fair. When did I ever tell you to do that?” Davina’s voice shook a little, but she was set on denying everything.
Inside, frustration was boiling over. How could so many of them mess with Camilla and end up being the ones hauled off to the police station? And instead of taking responsibility, they were trying to pull her down with them. She couldn’t believe how stupid they were.
Her aunt glared. “Don’t play games. You basically begged us to stand up for you with all that stuff you said yesterday. We wouldn’t be in this mess if not for you. Don’t even think about leaving us here. Isn’t your husband Barnard? If they come for you, you better make them take all of us too, or no one’s leaving p>
Another cousin chimed in, just as angry. “Yeah, she’s right. We’re stuck because of you, so you’re not shaking us off p>
“Take us all with you or we’re going nowhere p>
Once her aunt started, everyone joined in, their voices overlapping until Davina could barely hear herself think. She tried to get a word in, but they just kept talking over her, making it plain they were dead set on using her to get out.
That was when real fear crept in. Her spot in the Carter family had never been secure, and if she got saddled with this circus, the Carters might cut her loose. That would be it. Game over.
Trying to steady herself, Davina said, “Okay, even if you misunderstood what I said, I never told you to break into her company. How is that my fault? Let’s be reasonable here p>
But her aunt just snorted. “Don’t talk to us about being reasonable. If you had explained things, none of this would have happened. I don’t even want to argue. Either you get us out with you or you can kiss your fancy new life goodbye p>
They refused to back down and Davina could feel panic squeezing her chest. She looked desperately at Carmen and the others for help, but everyone just looked the other way.
That was when her brother, Neil, piped up with zero shame. “Sis, when are the Carters getting us out? I’ve got a guild battle in my game tonight. I’m gonna miss it p>
Davina shot him a look. Neil was in his thirties, had dropped out of college, and basically lived on his parents’ couch playing video games. All that sitting had left him huge, almost three hundred pounds, his skin weirdly pale. Next to him, Davina looked so thin she might snap if she tried to stand up to the wind.
She was at her breaking point. Even her little brother was no help. She bit out, “Are you kidding me? You at least went to school and you’re acting like this? The uncles and aunts don’t know any better, but you could have stopped them. Whose fault is it now p>
Before Neil could answer, Carmen jumped out from where she’d been huddled and went straight for Davina’s hair, shouting, “You troublemaker! Dragging me into all this, then blaming your own brother? You little snake, I swear I’m going to beat some sense into you p>
Carmen had always been quick with her fists growing up, and Davina still froze whenever Carmen got violent. She didn’t even try to fight back, and the next thing she knew, she was covered in welts and scratches.
The rest of the family watched, pretending not to notice, not a single one trying to help her.
When Barnard finally walked in, the first thing he saw was Davina’s face, barely healed, already marked up again.
The Blair relatives, led by Carmen, turned in unison, staring him down as if sizing up their next target. It put Barnard on edge right away.
Through tears, Davina locked eyes with him and her voice cracked. “Barnard, you finally came for me… I can’t stay here anymore, please, just get me out p>
Her nightgown hung off her, two buttons missing, skin showing where it had been pulled open. Her face, makeup-free and scratched, looked years older than she remembered.