The President's Daughter (Original) ✔️

38. Twist the Knife

Lil Wayne- How to Love (Easily top 3 of his greatest hits. Don't argue)

Adele- Rolling in the Deep

"My heart's already breaking baby go on twist the knife." - Love You Goodbye (One Direction)

Hope's POV

Take my hand.

My eyes fly open and water shoots up my nostrils. I sit up and clutch my nose in pain.

It takes a moment to gather my surroundings. I'm in the bathtub with my head half-submerged. I pick up my phone from the floor. It's 7 and I need to leave soon. l don't remember how long I've been in here, but the deep wrinkles in my fingers give a good idea.

When I put my phone down, the raw pain returns and I'm afraid I might drown under it. How can one go on after this? How can I be okay after all that have happened, knowing that the man I loved most in the world betrayed me?

My body have been stripped dry of water, I've cried it all out last night. Now, my body has taken over a quiet calmness. A hollow empty feeling. At least, almost empty. I can feel that at the bottom of my chest, lies anger and resentment waiting to be let out.

I slowly get out of the tub and drain the water. I jump with a start when I stare at the mirror. The reflection I see is unrecognizable. The circles under my eyes have gone unmistakably black, my eyes are low with profound lethargy. My skin is wrinkly from the who-knows-how-long pity party in the tub.

I only have half an hour to look presentable. Because I've missed a week, I've failed two tests and my grades are dropping. If I want to pass my core classes, I can't afford to lose another day.

When I've put on makeup, making sure to put three layers of concealer, I quickly climb into the car.

My phone starts to ring as we approach the school. Cellie. "Hey."

"Uh... Hope? Everyone knows."

My heart quickens in trepidation. "Knows what?"

"About Damien."

I grit my teeth and close my eyes to try to cool down the anger rising in my stomach. "How?"

"You know Robert Duncan?"

"Who?"

"He's your classmate! He has, like, three classes with you. Anyway, his dad is a cop and he told him what happened. Everyone is talking about it."

I let out a breath. Of course. Just when things couldn't possibly get any worse, fate had to twist the knife. And the even worst part is that Damien is innocent. And the world will see him as guilty. And I'm the one who will suffer from it.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"I have to," I whisper. I hang up the phone and press my fingers to my eyes. Why is this happening to me? How selfish can Damien be? Making such a rash decision and making me bear the end of it?

The car pulls into the driveway and I reluctantly step out of the car. Immediately I can feel eyes trailing me. I turn to see that most people have stopped what they were doing and have turned to my direction.