"I bet she ruined my party because she was jealous of me. She has never got to celebrate her birthday before and I bet she knew that she would never be able to afford such a lavish birthday party in her entire miserable life. I am sure that is why she ruined my party...,"
"Point of correction I have celebrated my birthday before," Joanna cut in, her hands by her sides.
"And my birthday was a thousand times bigger and better than yours. It was attended by the King, Queen Mother of this great Kingdom and so many dignitaries. It happened less than a year ago so don't tell you have forgotten about it?" Joanna asked, her head cocked to the sides.
A smug grin lingered at the corner of her lips as her eyes moved from one angry face to the other.
"It was your sister's birthday. Even though you girls had a misunderstanding you should have let it go. You should have been considerate of her feelings," Mr Anderson said.
"I should have been considerate of her feelings?" Joanna hissed, her murderous glances settled on her father's face.
HAHAHA
HAHAHA
HAHAHA
Joanna laughed hysterically. Her maniacal laughter made the others shift away from her.
For a minute there, they almost believed she had lost her sanity.
"You said I should have been considerate of her feelings, so tell me, in the past 16 years had anyone of you been considerate of wellbeing not to mention my feelings?" Joanna yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Joanna...,"
"If none of you was considerate of my feelings all these years, then tell me one reason why I should have given a fuck about how that bratty stepsister of mine feels?" Joanna retorted as she pointed her index finger at Laura.
Everyone stared at her. For a minute there they were lost for words.
"None of you have the right to tell me to be considerate...,"
"But that didn't warrant you to do such a thing to her. She is still your blood no matter how hard you deny it," Mr Anderson muttered.
Although he knew he was partly responsible for how things turned out, he refused to give up his attempt to make Joanna realise that she was wrong this time around.
"Laura...," Joanna called. She walked three steps forward so that the gap between her and Laura was just an arm's reach away.
"You have always said that filthy blood runs in my veins. Don't tell me you are willing to share in this filthy blood...,"
"That is enough, you silly brat," Madam Cora stepped in.
"Compose yourself or...,"
"Or what, Madam Cora?" Joanna cut in, her eyeballs that depict no fear locked with Madam Cora's.
"Will you throw me out of the house like you threatened?" Joanna quizzed, her hands folded behind her back.
"You never belonged here in the first place so, normally, you should return to where...,"
"If you are planning to throw me out of the house then I will ask that you save yourself the trouble because I am gonna walk out of here on my own," Joanna announced sternly.
"What!" All occupants of the sitting room exclaimed. Their eyeballs bulged out as if they would fall out of their sockets.
"Isn't this what you all have always wanted so why do you all look so surprised?" Joanna snarled.
She approached the door without waiting for any of their replies.
"You have nowhere to go, so don't be silly and come back here?" Mr Anderson ordered fiercely.
Mr Anderson heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Joanna halt in her tracks. He waited to see her turn around and walk back into the house but she didn't.
"Are you feeling a bit reluctant to let me go because you got what you wanted too easily?" Joanna asked. She slowly turned and gaze at where all of them stood.
Madam Cora glanced at Joanna. She couldn't hide her astonishment no matter how hard she tried.
It's true for the longest time she has always wanted to throw her out of her daughter's home but the opportunity to do that never arises since Joanna was humble to a fault in the past.
When she threatened to have her thrown out of the house, she intended to scare her a bit. She could never imagine that Joanna would grant her wish without putting up a strong fight.
"Actually, ever since I was a kid my biggest dream was to quickly attain legal age so I would escape from this hell by leaving home. Never for once have you asked me what I wanted or pay attention to me so I am sure you were never aware of this," Joanna muttered.
Her savvy words would have come out perfectly had it not been for the hint of pain in her tone.
Ever since she was a child she had yearned for a parent's love.
Yes, she was aware she would never get such love from her stepmother and that was why she looked up to her father for this.
She longed for his love and acknowledgement but he never showed her any of this.
He disappointed her over and over again. It got to a point that she stopped expecting anything from him.
All these years she thought she was alright. She believed nothing he did would get to her.
She really believed she was done having expectations on this failure of a father but she just discovered recently that she wasn't ok at all.
Her heart still aches occasionally.
She tried her best but it ended up not working in her favour.
"In the past, I didn't have a choice but I do now. And I will rather sleep out in the streets than live in this hell of a place where everyone wants me dead," Joanna declared.
She spun and walked out of the house.
"Come back here, Joanna Anderson," Mr Anderson called out to her but there was no response.
....
Hello ever lovely readers, it's your darling author here again. I am so sorry I wasn't able to upload chapters for days, believe me, it wasn't planned.
I fell seriously ill which made me unable to write anything. Although it wasn't intentional on my part I still want to apologise.
You guys had to wait for days without any updates, I am sorry. I promise to make it up to you guys when I get better.
Thanks for your understanding.
And please keep on supporting the book with your power stones, GOLDEN TICKETS, comments, reviews and gifts.
I love you ❤️❤️❤️
