The Last Laugh novel Chapter 23

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Ace's POV:

~~~~ I'm in the stable, on the floor. I'm hungry and tired. I watch the horses eat and I envy them. My throat is dry. I don't have portable water to drink. Christina's put a lock on the tap. I have no right to enter the farmhouse to drink water. No employee wants to help me.

I'm cold and alone. I cry and cry for help. The pain is almost unbearable.

I feel a presence hovering over me. I open my eyes, little Heather. Always so beautiful with her freckles. She has clear pity for me. She smiles a little to make me feel better. I watch her stretch out a hand to me. I look at her. She nods, encouraging me to take her hand.

I reach out for her but she disappears, and Christina is in front of me. She let's out an evil laugh, mocking me.

In a horrible voice, she says:

"You little bastard! You are nothing! Nothing! My daughter is not your level, you ugly snout! Hahahaha! You will die!  Just like your stupid father did! You will die! I'll make sure you do!"

She raises a hand to slap me. I'm afraid. I close my eyes and beg, awaiting the hard slap.

But then, I feel a soft caress against my cheek. I open my eyes. My father!

"Dad?" I cry, unable to believe.

"Sheridan..." he calls.

"Yes, dad. Help me, please." I sob.

"I love you, son. Never forget that."

"Dad, I miss you. Please. I'm maltreated here, please!"

He holds my hand.

"Everything will be alright. I  assure you. The best is yet to come."

"Dad, stay with me. I know you died but please stay with me."

"I love you, son. Things never seem the way they are." he starts to walk away.

"Dad! Dad! Dad!" I watch him disappear in blinding light. "Nooooooo!" ~~~~

Writer's POV:

Ace woke up in his own sweat. Panting and dizzy. He'd had an odd, terrible dream. A dream that had brought back all traumatising memories of his childhood.

Ace looked at the time, three in the morning. Places were dark.

His breathing was still raged and his heartbeat had increased.

He felt pain, hatred and frustration.

He got out of bed and went straight to his window to look down at the dark empty  streets.

He cried. Tears rolled down his cheeks uncontrollably. He cried like he was about to lose his life. He cried and gripped his hair, pulling in agony and pain. He felt like shouting in the silence of the night.

He had a pain in the chest. A burden! A revenge to accomplish. He would do it! He would! Even if he had to do things that he wasn't supposed to do. He would revenge at all costs! He would!

Ace sat on the floor, his hands on his head, sobbing painfully. He missed his dad. He had to know what exactly happened. Why were his dad's fingers and clothes the only things the sheriff found? Christina! Christina was surely the one behind his father's death and her own husband's death. He had to find proof. He hated that woman. He would do anything, even become her friend, just to revenge and get what was his rightfully.

"So, I'm not beautiful other mornings? Just this one morning in particular?" she asked teasingly, folding her arms.

"You know you always are." I smirked and she blushed even more, avoiding my eyes. "That's why I used very, because this particular morning you are very beautiful."

She smirked, clearly loving the compliments.

"Thanks. Hm, seems like someone woke up happy this morning." she smiled.

"Why say so?"

"You're all smiley and giving me compliments. Seems like this is the other side of you?"

"Yeah. You like it?" I teased a little. She giggled and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I love." she replied with that little smirk of hers.

"Perfect." I smiled and walked past her to my office. I felt her watching me as I walked away.

Idiot.

'You don't know what's coming, honey. It's just a fucking start. It's too easy.'

I entered my office and dropped my briefcase before collapsing on my chair.

I had to be wise and discreet. I had to get both mother and daughter in my hands without me losing or pushing away my true heartbeat, Heather. I had to be discreet in a way that both mother and daughter would not know that I was luring them both.

I hated Christina but I had to, at all cost, succeed in my plans. It was just the start of their downfall like I'd said earlier.