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QOTD

Chapter |29|

"So tell me more about school. How are your studies?" Gramp asked as we sat in the living room, some random show playing on the Tv.

"They're good. In fact I have enough credits to graduate too," I proudly told Gramp who smiled at me.

It had been two days since I came here and to say that these were the most peaceful days would be an understatement. For the first time after mom's death, I wasn't worried about anything.

I was a bit nervous though, since tomorrow was mom's death anniversary and I had planned to go to her cemetery to spend some time with her.

But it wasn't that kind of nervousness where you felt like you carried the whole world on your head. It was a tingly nervousness. The type you get when you anticipate doing something for the first time.

Initially I had resolved that I wouldn't break my promise of not visiting my mom, ever. But when the vulnerability had taken over, it had forced me to crush my promise.

Now since it was already broken, I was going to visit my mom and be happy with it.

"So have you applied to colleges or do you have something else in mind?" Gramp questioned, breaking me out of my line of thought.

"Actually, I have applied to one. It was the only one that offered my completion of high school along with my initiation of college studies," I replied and my stomach tickling on excitement at the thought of going away from the Devils.

"Is it in London by any chance?" Gran piped up from behind me and my eyebrows shot up.

I turned around, surprised. "How did you know?"

"Well, there was a letter that came in a week back. It said that it was from some university in London. I was confused as to who it could belong to since it said Penny Carter, but I kept it anyway, just in case," she told me and I immediately sprang up from my seat.

"What letter? Do you have it with you now?" I asked hurriedly, the tickling increasing by each passing second.

I had deliberately written down this address because I didn't want to risk having my letter get into the hands of wither Linda or Alicia but the letter wasn't supposed to come until another month.

Nerves tingled in my body as I thought about whether I'd gotten in or not. Whether I could start anew or not.

"Of course. Just give me a moment and I'll find it for you," she said and disappeared into her room.

I could barely stop my leg from shaking as I anticipated my result. Hopefully working my ass off for the special recommendations had paid off.

To keep myself from imagining scenarios, I decided to switch on my phone. I'd switched it off when I had come here so that no one could contact me.

I diverted my attention as the logo light flickered and my phone came to life. It took a moment for my phone to start up and when it did, my eyes widened at what I saw.

Missed Calls

Andrew (29)

Emma (22)

Daniel (33)

Messages

Andrew (14)

Daniel (10)

Bank (1)

My eyebrows furrowed when I saw that I had a message from bank.

I clicked on it and what I read almost made me drop my phone in horror.

This is to confirm the termination of account number 736282, belonging to Ms Penelope Carter, D/O Mark Carter.

Thank you for choosing us as your banker.

My hands trembled when I read the words. My account had been terminated. The same account that kept the money for my college tuition.

This can't be true.

With shaky hands, I dialled the number of my account manager. She was a nice girl in her twenties and was one of the people I could possibly call my friends.

"Hello, this is ABC bank, how may I be of service?"

"Christina? I-It's me, Sky- I mean Penelope. Penelope Carter?" I blabbered into my phone. Across from me, Gramp shot me a worried look.

"Oh hey. Did you call for the confirmation of deactivating your account?" She asked and my stomach twisted as I realised that it was true. My account had been terminated.

"Yeah, about that. Why did my account de-activate?"

"Wait- you don't know?" She asked, her voice oozing confusion.

"K-Know what?" Dread swam in my veins, creating an urge to rip my phone so that I wouldn't have to hear what she had to say next.

"Your account has been empty for more than six months now. And since its company's policy that any empty account needs to be terminated after six months, I had to deactivate yours," she said and an emotion similar to horror and shock mixed together engulfed my mind.

"For six months?!" I nearly yelled.

My knees buckled and I sat down on the sofa with a thump. No, not my college fund.

How could my college fund be emptied out?

My mind raked for possible places where I could've spent my money. I knew I had made each savings on proper dates and all the money that if gotten through my races was also deposited in my bank. So how could it be empty?

"What was the last transaction that was made through my account?" I asked Christina.

"Um, let me search through," she said as I waited, my foot tapping nervously on the floor.

I anxiously held the hem my top in a fist and Gramp eyed me worriedly again. Gran came into the room, waving a letter in her hand happily but she stopped when she observed the heavy atmosphere.

Gramp shushed her before she could say anything and made her sit down next to him.

I was kind of glad and grateful for their understanding.

"Ah-hah! Found it. The money in your bank account was used for the purchase of a car. It shows the picture of the car and the details are a bit complex," she spoke into the phone.

I froze. "Which car?"

"It's a Beetle. Volkswagen,"she said and I clutched my phone, rage brimming inside me.

"What colour is the car?" I asked with barely contained anger. If this was true, I would burst and it would be disastrous.

"It's bright yellow. So much so that my eyes are burning even looking at it," she giggled and I forced myself to take in deep breaths.

"One last thing. How did sh- I mean anyone else take out money from my account? Because that wasn't done by me," I asked, clenching my jaw.

"Well, your dad was the one who took this money out. I was surprised at first but then I thought it was a birthday gift for you," she told me and my anger rose.

Oh it was a birthday gift alright. But just not for me.

"But how?"

"Since you were still a minor six months back, your dad held legal power over your account. Meaning he could take out money on your behalf," she said and I couldn't take it any longer. After muttering a quick thanks, I got up.

That fucking, shitty piece of blood sucking leech.

I clenched my fists tightly, crushing my phone with all my strength. The phone didn't receive any damage so I threw it against the wall, some satisfaction entering my body as I watched it crack.

"Honey, what happened?" Gran got up, surprised by my anger.

I don't know why, but suddenly tears brimmed my eyes as Gran's soft voice reached my ears. But I didn't let them fall. I was done letting myself tear up because of those douchebags.

"My father emptied my college funds to gift my step-sister a car," I replied, my voice thick with emotions.

"That cheating scumbag!" Gramp roared, surprising me.

My eyes widened when I saw anger in both of my grandparents eyes. What surprised me even more was that it felt like suppressed rage. I could feel it standing near them.

"Gramp, is everything okay?" I asked, feeling as if the situation had reversed.

"No, kiddo. Everything is not alright. First he deceived me and took my company and daughter away and now he has the audacity to hinder my grand daughter's education. He's a piece of shit," he raged and my mouth gaped.

"What do you mean by took your company away?" I asked, startled at the new discovery.

Gramp sighed, calming himself a bit before starting.

"Just before your mother passed away, I was the CEO of the Jones & Co. I held 52 per cent of the shares in the company and had the majority votes for being appointed the CEO by the board of directors.

Three years back, your father offered to buy back a few of my shares on my behalf and manage the company for a few weeks since I had to leave for meetings abroad. When I came back, I found out that your dad had bought the shares under his name instead of mine and manipulated the board into thinking that I cheated off the funds

Since your mom still held the majority shares in the company, your father took over after she died, making him a major stakeholder of the company," Gramp explained and I stood there flabbergasted.

That was when I realised how much of a cheat my father was. I was ashamed to share the same blood as him. Disgust ran through me as I thought of how much I used to love him.

Seeing my grandparents fall apart because of that demon, made my blood boil. My resolve became stronger as I fetched my cracked phone.

Thankfully, it was still working. Not very well though. It kept hanging and made it hard for me to look for what I was in need of.

Once I found it, I turned to Gramp. "Gramp, can I borrow your phone?"

He turned to me confused. "Of course. But what are you planning?"

I smiled a little. Coldness seeped through it as I spoke,"Someone needs to be taught where they stand."

He looked at me confused but rather than answering further, I took Gramp's phone and dialled a number.

The phone rang a few times before the person picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Henderson? It's Skylar. Can we meet?"

My father and his family were going down. And that was a promise.

****
"Honey, are you sure about it?" Gran questioned as I pulled up my socks. My acceptance letter lay open on beside me as I examined myself in the mirror.

Not bad, I thought as I observed my reflection. I had on some of my old clothes that I had here. They were a bit loose when I'd bought them and now they fit perfectly.

I had on a sleeveless, off-White top with Dream Big written in a box along with floral shorts.

"Of course Gran, it's the only way," I told her as I got ready to visit mom.

It was early in the morning and the weather was nice, which gave me hope to fulfil what I had planned. I was going to confront my father and his family about all their wrongdoings.

But before that, I had to go visit mom and then pick up my disguise so that I could confront him in person. It wouldn't be logical if I went as Skylar to argue since I was barely recognisable without my disguise.

"Do you want us to come with?" Gran asked, as she worriedly glanced at me.

I turned to face her with a smile. "Gran, as much as I'd like you to come with me, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to say no. I don't want to give those people another target," I replied.

"Call of you need anything," she said before leaving the bedroom.

I was a bit happy today since I was going to meet my mom after so long. In fact my excitement to meet her, even on her death anniversary, didn't dampen my mood.

Bidding goodbye to my grandparents, I started off towards Silver Valley where I had to finish some things.

It took a hour and a half to reach the familiar lanes through which I eased my way to the place where I'd started feeling feeling at home.

Calming myself, I nervously stepped out of the car and went towards the door. I knocked a couple of times but no one opened the door.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Was there another event going on?

Yeah. That would be it.

I shrugged off any bad feeling I was getting and went inside, using the key in the flower pot. My stomach tingled as I examined the familiarity of the house.

I jogged my way to my room and saw that nothing had been touched. It was exactly the way I'd left it, with a couple of clothes strewn about.

I picked those up and looked for my disguise. Once I found it, I quickly pulled it on top of the clothes I was wearing and then covered it with a loose hoodie and pants.

I adjusted my wig on top of my loose hair and pinned it up so that it wouldn't fall off.

Picking up my glasses, I exited the room. I decided to call someone to let them know that I was here.

Fetching the small flip phone that Gramp had managed to find to replace my broken one, I opened it and searched for the number I wanted.

Taking a deep breath, I dialled Emma's number. I'd felt a bit bad for abandoning everyone just like that. I knew that she would've worried.

It rang for a few moments before her soft yet authoritative voice rang into my ears.

"He-"

"I repeat, anyone who now enters the cemetery will be kicked out of the competition with a negative remark on the school recommendations," her voice cut off my greeting.

She wasn't speaking to me since her voice was a bit distant.

But fright made me alert as I heard the word cemetery.

"Hello? Emma? Are you there?" I spoke frantically.

"Hello? Kindly excuse me for that. May I know who I'm speaking to?" She replied, her voice turning a bit apologetic.

"What happened at the cemetery?" I asked, slipping the formalities.

She paused. "S-Skye?"

"Yes, Emma, it's me Skylar. Please tell me what you were shouting about," I pleaded, hoping that it wasn't, by any chance, related to me or mom.

"Oh honey, I'm so, so sorry. I didn't know this would happen. I'm really sorry," she started and my voice caught in my throat.

"Emma, what happened?" I managed to get out.

"I-It's your mother's grave. I-"she started but I cut her off, my body going rigid.

"Stay there, I'm coming."

Wrong time, Alicia.

The biggest mistake I've made in my life is letting you and your blood sucking leech of a mother stay in my life longer than necessary.

All these years you messed with me and I tolerated it. You destroyed my relationship with all the people around me, I didn't retaliate.

But you just crossed a line you shouldn't have even neared. You fucked with my something that was the most precious thing in my life.

So now, I was going to fuck your life up.

You can count on it because I am done being an echo.

Now I'm going to be the voice.
*************************
Hey people!

How was it?

I hope you enjoyed it. Shits gonna go down in the next chapter because now the tiger is awake. And it's gonna hunt its prey without mercy.

Hint for the next chapter: The next chapter will clear most of your queries! Cough *Mr. Henderson talk* cough.

And if anyone wants to send me fan art, you are most welcome to do so too!

Keep voting and commenting! Thank you guys!