Chapter 211
Christian refused to leave.
Gabriel shot Stephen and Bianca a withering glare. โWhat the hell are you two gawking at? Pack his stuff and get him out now. I canโt stand the sight of this muddle-headed idiot!โ
Daniella was clearly out to make the Gibson family live a living hell. She latched onto anyone whoโd help her and stirred up drama nonstop. If she hadnโt kicked over her own food, would she be starving?
Stephen rushed to yank Christian away. The second he turned, Christianโs bloodshot eyes overflowed with tears. His father had never laid a hand on him like that before.
โOur family used to be picture-perfectโdoting parents and caring kids. When has it all gone to shit? Or is this their true nature, laid bare now that their interests have crumbled?โ Christian thought.
Just as they reached the door, Abigail and Wyatt walked in.
Wyatt spotted Christianโs tears first and stepped forward. โWhat happened?โ
โSince when do you give a damn? Stick to babysitting your granddaughter. The rest of us arenโt your problem. You might as well pretend we donโt exist,โ Christian snarled, his anger spiking at the sight of them.
Abigail frowned, but Stephen whispered to Christian, โThink yelling helps? Letโs go.โ
Christian pulled on his shoes and trailed Stephen outside.
Once they were clear of the villa, Stephen said, โNo offense, but Dad wants Daniella to own up to her crap. He wants her to suffer like Abigail did, not use you as her pawn to fight him.โ
Christian tried to interrupt, but Stephen barked, โThatโs your issueโalways jumping in mid-sentence. Go ahead, talk. I couldnโt care less.โ
Christian clamped his mouth shut.
Stephen went on, โJesus, get it through your head. Dadโs as stubborn as a mule. The more you rebel, the surer he is that Daniellaโs pulling your strings.โ
Wasnโt Daniella using Christian to fight Gabriel just another way of rebelling? In Gabrielโs eyes, sheโd lied, destroyed his real daughterโs life, and now had the nerve to challenge him?
Christian clammed up. โI definitely acted on impulse today,โ he thought.
Stephen said, โNow the maids can say anything. Who in this house doesnโt know what we did to Abigail back then?โ
Stephen let out a sigh. โWe didnโt want to end up in jail, so we had to send the culprit to jail. Youโre still taking the culpritโs side. Of course, Dadโs pissed off.โ
โAfter I leave, promise me youโll look after Dani,โ Christian just couldnโt shake his worry.
Stephenโs expression turned deadpan. โIโm talking to you like family. Donโt make trouble. I canโt stand her either. Donโt ask me for help. I wonโt do it.โ
โStevie,โ Christianโs voice cracked with pleading. โJust this one time.โ
โNot gonna happen. Look at what Daniella did to this family. If she hadnโt faked depression and killed someone, would we be accessories? Would our lives be this fucked up? Have you lost your mind?โ Stephen snapped.
โStevie.โ
โCut it out. Iโm not waiting on Her Highness. Serve her food and sheโll still give me attitude. She hasnโt accepted reality. If she had, sheโd shut up instead of turning you against Dad.โ Stephen spun around and stalked off, icy cold.
For the first time, Christian saw the truthโhis family had always been this heartless.
When Stephen got home, he saw Abigail sitting on the couch watching the news and couldnโt help wondering, โHow did Abigail put up with this for all those years?โ
Daniella had only been in this position for a few days, but she was stirring up drama every day. Now Gabriel came home just to yell and throw punches.
โItโs beyond annoying,โ Stephen thought.
โWhatโs the deal?โ Wyatt asked as Stephen flopped onto the couch.
Gabriel had clammed up, so Wyatt hadnโt figured out what had happened.
โUghโฆ Daniellaโs at it again. Yesterday the maid ran her mouth while serving food and ended up in the hospital with bad injuries. Today the new maid left the tray by the door, and Daniella kicked it over.โ Stephen doubted the maidโs story, but he didnโt get Daniella at all.
No one could figure out what she was thinking. If he had, he wouldnโt have let her use him as a tool for years.
Abigail listened quietly, saying nothing.
โThen what happened?โ Wyatt pressed.
โThe maid snitched, so Dad got pissed and cut off her food. When Chris came home, he went upstairs to talk to her, then came down and raided the fridgeโtotally blew off Dadโs orders. That set Dad off, and he started whaling on Chris. Iโm serious, Daniella is nothing but problems.โ Stephenโs tone was pure frustration.