Before Heather knew what was happening, Lauren fell to her knees, her voice trembled too. "Yes, Dad," Lauren began, her eyes glistening with crocodile tears. "You know how Heather is. Sometimes she acts so senseless, and it's my fault. I should've stayed with her instead of leaving for another country. Maybe then she wouldn't have turned out like this. Now my sister is an illiterate."
Heather's breath caught in her throat. Illiterate? The word stung, but she couldn't find her voice to respond.
Mr. Lionel's tone was sharp and unforgiving. "She overdosed me, and you're calling that a mistake? If I had died, would that have been a mistake too?"
"Daddy," Lauren continued, inching closer to him. "Heather can be so stupid sometimes. It's like she has the brain of a bird. She's like this on set too, always forgetting her lines, shouting 'cut' every five seconds. The director and Miss H complained about her, but I begged them to let her stay in the movie. Please, forgive her."
Heather was too stunned to speak. All she could do was stare at the lies spilling from Lauren's fat mouth.
Mr. Lionel turned his gaze to Heather. "Why did you do it, Heather?"
"What's going on? I didn't..."
"Daddy, I accidentally told her about the inheritance," Lauren said, her voice softened as if she was confessing a sin. "I told her you were giving it to me, and she got mad. Maybe that's why she overdosed you."
Lionel's brow furrowed. "I thought you said it was accidental?"
"I'm just trying to give her the benefit of the doubt," Lauren replied, her tone angelic.
"No, that's not true!" Heather's voice finally broke through, but it was desperate.
"Heather," Lionel snapped, his voice rising. "Your sister is trying to help you, and you're not even grateful."
Heather stood abruptly. "I don't need her help. I didn't do anything!"
"Quiet, child!" Evelyn barked. She grabbed Heather's arm, trying to force her to kneel. "You should be begging, not claiming you're right. Apologize."
"I'm not apologizing for something I didn't do," Heather said, yanking her arm free.
"Heather, don't you have any shame? We all watched the video of you putting the vial... I mean, the medicine, in daddy's water. Stop lying. You're a disgrace to this family. All we've ever done is give you the benefit of the doubt, even though we know what you're capable of..." She paused. "Who knows? Maybe that's how you killed your mother too."
Heather's vision blurred with rage. Madness. it was a feeling, and it consumed her. Lauren's words hit her like a slap. Before she realized what she was doing, she lunged forward, grabbing Lauren by the neck. Lauren gasped, struggling against Heather's grip, but Heather didn't let go. Evelyn rushed to pull Heather away, but Heather's fury was unrelenting. She grabbed Evelyn with her free hand, pressing her down too.
Lauren's face turned red as she struggled, her gasps grew weaker. Evelyn wailed, her voice high-pitched and desperate, but Heather didn't care. Years of pain and manipulation boiled over, and she let it all out. She balanced herself between the two women and pressed on them harder.
Lionel shouted from the bed. "You're killing them! Stop this madness!" He turned to the man in the suit, who hesitated before stepping forward.
"Help me!" Evelyn screamed, grabbing and pulling the man's legs, to pull herself from underneath Heather. The man staggered for a second before tumbling to the ground.
Heather finally released Evelyn's neck. She shifted her focus entirely to Lauren. She sat on Evelyn's chest, pinning her down, while her hand slapped Lauren's face repeatedly. Each slap echoed in the room. Lauren's cries grew weaker. Her face turned red and got swollen.
When she was done, Heather rose deliberately, her breathing heavy. The man in the suit stood to his feet, dusting himself off. Mr. Lionel's face was red with fury.
"You're insane," he spat.
Heather smiled, a cold, detached smile. "I've been meaning to do that for a long time."
"You're just like your mother. You're not my daughter."
Heather's smile widened. "And thank God for that. I wouldn't want to be anything like you."
"Naive. Brain dead. Stupid. Confused. Senseless."
Mr. Lionel's eyes widened. "What did you just say to me?"
"You heard me," Heather said. "I can't believe someone who thinks he's not that, is so easily deceived by these snakes. Anyone who can't see manipulation is naive, brain dead, stupid, confused, and senseless."
"You're talking to your father like this?" Lionel roared.
"I have no father, remember? I'm not your daughter."
"I disown you!" Mr. Lionel bellowed.
Heather shrugged. "That's fine by me. It's not like I ever felt like I had a family anyway."
"Get out of this room! You're no longer part of this family!" Lionel shouted, he pointed to the door.
Heather turned to grab her bag and the flowers she had brought. She paused for a moment. "You know," she said, "it's funny how you think you're in control. But you're not. You're just a puppet, and they're pulling your strings."
"You'll regret this! I'll make sure you do!" Mr. Lionel's face turned red as he tried to rise from the bed, but his legs gave out, and he collapsed. Heather didn't wait to see what happened next. She walked out, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Ding. The elevator doors opened, and Heather stepped inside. When she reached the parking lot, she walked to the dumpster in the corner. And she dropped the flowers inside and headed to her car. She was done. The Heather of the past would have cried, would have begged for understanding. But not anymore. This Heather didn't need their approval.