57

Artemisia

"I can't believe he'll do that to me!"

"I can't either," Julie said, nodding. She sighed, sitting on the sofa whilst I paced around the room.

I kicked the door, paced towards the window and breathed in. I let it out slowly, then glared at nothing in particular.

It was a good thing when we came inside, Sin was nowhere around the room, I wonder what I would have done if he was inside.

I was still in shock about what I had seen and found it hard to believe.

I didn't think I could ever be betrayed by someone close to me. Not even Sin whom I had come to trust!

My parents had sold me off to him, I shouldn't be surprised Emma would do the same as betraying me since she had the same gene as them!

But Sin…

"You need to keep calm, Artemisia."

"Keep calm?!" I shouted, with my hands raised.

"I know if you were the one, you'd have done something drastic back there. I know what you could do."

"That is right." Julie nodded, then continued. "You need to calm down to think of what to do next. Pacing would do you no good."

She was right. But, that was if I had something reasonable to think about. My mind was blank and the only thing I could think of at the moment was murdering someone. Yet, I could do nothing.

What I did to Murphy back then, I wished that same energy had rushed out within me. I should have used it on both without having a second thought.

At least, I'd be able to channel my pain. Nothing had happened. I had been made to look like a fool. A freaking fool!

"I wish I could f*cking killed her. I wish she was nobody to me!"

"I know you wouldn't do anything even if she was your enemy," Julie mumbled.

"Because I am so soft and stupid. They used all that against me!" I sniffled, wiping at my cheeks angrily.

"No." Julie shook her head. "It is because you are you, Artemisia. You are not stupid."

"I doubt that," I grunted. Then, balled my hands into fists as the image of Emma wrapped around Sin emerged in my head once more.

"Why did she do that to me? I did nothing wrong. I have always been the best sister to her and I had never taken anything that belonged to her! Did I? Was Sin hers?"

The tears I was trying to keep in surged out.

I turned to Julie. Tears kept pouring down my cheeks. I didn't mind if I couldn't see her clearly. I just wanted her to answer my question and I wanted the pain to vanish.

But, it kept coming stronger.

"Sinclair isn't Emma's. He is legally bound to you and you know that. Your sister enjoys seeing you hurt." Julie said. "But, I doubt anything happened. Maybe it was a set-up. I mean, you can see Sin was only shirtless. He didn't look like he had done anything to her."

I remembered I had seen his pants still on him. Only his upper body was exposed and angry slashed marks were on his chest like he had an angry s*x session with her.

I believe Julie was trying to make me see things positively. But, I doubt it was so.

I didn't know what transpired between them and I didn't think it was a set-up either since Sin had not said anything about it. He didn't even deny being with her.

"I feel betrayed by my sister and someone I believed loved me. I am delusional, right? And so naive." I berated myself. I clasped my face in my hands and rocked my body as it shook in a nerve-racking sob.

"I am always here for you," Julie assured. She wrapped her hands around me and didn't let go.

I cried into her chest and she just sat with me, saying soothing words and caressing my back whilst I bawled my eyes out.

When I was done, I gazed up at her with swollen eyes, "What will I do? I don't think I can stay here anymore."

I feel shattered by the betrayal. I believed I couldn't look at Sin the same way anymore.

Having him close to me would make the pain surface and I don't think I wanted to be vulnerable in his presence presently as the Sin I knew seemed to be gone.

In place was someone else. Someone I barely knew. Someone that didn't even acknowledge my existence. He revelled in inflicting pains on me and he didn't care if I was hurt or not.

"Don't say that," Julie mumbled. "As I said, you need to keep calm. Talk to Sin later. I'm sure he has some explaining to do. I don't think it is the way you are taking it."

I shook my head at her suggestion. Even though it was the best thing to do, hearing what Sin had to say about whatever happened since Emma enjoyed lying, I didn't think it was the right thing to do at a time like this.

I don't know why, but I feel being away from him was the best thing.

Yet, I couldn't think of a way to escape from his clutch.

"I don't think I am ready to face him yet."

"I understand," Julie said. "But, that is the best option right now. Believing whatever comes from your sister's mouth would be the worst thing ever. Emma is good at deceiving people."

I nodded, sighing. "I just can't face him yet."

"Of course. You need to pull yourself together. I'm sure everything is a setup and it'll be resolved soon." Julie said, patting my back.

"I hope so." Despite how assuring her words were, I knew it wasn't set up. Since Sin hadn't denied what he did with her, there was no way I'd believed any other thing.

A few seconds later, Julie excused herself and I was left alone with my thoughts.

For the first time in my life, I felt like giving up on everything. I believed I had seen too many fairy tales to think real life was like that.