Phoenix ✔️

Chapter 38: I'll Be Back

"Now, are you going to invite me in, Asher? I am a guest after all," Tina repeats, as I look back at Ash.

He just has the mortified look on his face, like nothing's changed from his teenaged years. I don't blame him, considering this is the woman that completely ruined his twin. She's the woman who basically drove Colin to ruin me in so many different ways. I feel a new sense of determination to show her who's boss. If she can ruin Colin's life like that, and cause Ash to basically lose his other half, then she doesn't deserve any ounce of respect.

I step up a little bit, and say, "You don't deserve to be invited in. You've done everything that's worthy of you being considered a criminal. Now please, get the hell away." Ash looks at me with a somewhat grateful smile, and then we look at Tina, who is just unfazed. In fact, she looks a little bit annoyed at my slight bravery. She looks like she still wants to be able to control Ash and his choices on what he does. We both know that's far out of her power, because of the fact that she's not their mom anymore, yet the look in her demonic eyes is nothing short of controlling.

"Oh, shut up, little girl. You know nothing about Asher. I know him better than you do. Also, you have no place in his life. You're worth nothing to him. I was worth more. I was his mother at one point. You're probably his side chick who he just uses when he wants to. Plus, this is between him and I, so I suggest you take your huge nose and stick it somewhere else." My eyes widen at her nastiness, but I'm otherwise unfazed. I feel surprised, but at the same time, I didn't expect anything less. I knew she was nasty, but not this nasty.

The fury in Ash's eyes is intensifying by the second. I can tell that his temper is hanging by a very fine thread. One more word that comes out of Tina's mouth and he's going to lose it. And possibly get charged with battery. "Don't you dare talk about Nicole that way. She's made my life better than you ever had. And you were never my mother. Just because he was married to you doesn't mean that I would ever consider you my mother. You're a straight up Satanist. It's because of you that Colin abused her throughout the three years they were married. You treated all of us, including my father, like crap."

Tina raises an eyebrow, and then looks back at me, with a cocky smile. I can feel her scrutinize every aspect of me in just that simple stare of hers. I feel slightly uncomfortable, but I swallow the lump at the back of my throat and try not to buckle under her gaze. Her opinion is worth less than the dirt on the bottom of my shoe. "Oh, this is your sister in law? Ash, falling in love with your sister in law? Shameful! Very shameful! Colin would be very disappointed."

I cross my arms, and say, "Ex sister in law. I'm getting my marriage to Colin annulled. But that's not the point. Our point is, get the hell off of Ash's property, or we'll call the cops for all the abuse that we didn't report."

Tina gives me one last sneer, and then walks away from the door. I prepare myself just in case she decides to turn back and kill us all. Thankfully, she does, and leaves kind of peacefully. But not before saying, "I'll be back. Watch your back."

Ash slams the door behind him, and then huffs over to the couch. He plops down on it, while burying his face in his hands. I can't tell whether or not he's sad, angry, or perhaps a combination of both. I'm unsure as to whether I should go over to help him, or if I should just let him process this on his own.

However, after looking at him so distraught for about 30 seconds, I walk over to the couch, and sit down next to him. I place a hand on his shoulder, and say, "Ash, don't beat yourself up for it."

He takes his face out of his hands, and then rubs his forehead with his fingers. There are no tears running down his face, but I can almost feel the sadness chewing at his heart. "I just... I hate her, Nicole. I hate her so much. She basically ruined my whole family. And now she's back. I basically put my sisters' life in danger. I can't let her touch them. I don't care if I die doing it. Their safety matters more than mine."