Ammie's POV
As I strut towards my room, my mind comes up with plans to end my engagement with the Barringtons. If it were up to me, I would have called it off instantly. But it wasn't. This engagement had been arranged by my late grandfather to honor his friendship with William Barrington, Jamie's grandfather.
William was kind to me before my rebirth, he was a man I respected a lot. But his family? Nah. I hated them more than snakes hated hot places.
His wife and daughter-in-law had made my life miserable, dragging me through a pit of judgment and endless suffering to prove myself worthy of the Barrington name. Then there was Jamie, silent, complicit, cold. Devoid of emotions.
And Lizzie. Too many names came up that had wronged me but Lizzie stood out.
The thought of my cousin sent a vile of bitterness through me. It felt like I was choking on a repulsive taste of vinegar.
The betrayal cut deep once again, piercing my heart as raw as a sore wound. I had trusted her. Confused by her wretched displays of love. Even loved her like a sister. Thinking about it now, I was more foolish than a drowning goat.
Now, her lies and schemes have poisoned my family against me or maybe they didn't need to be poisoned. I couldn't shake the possible thought of Josh playing a part too? My brother had always been distant, sweet and kind. But had he been involved in what led to my death? That I can't remember.
I needed clarity. I strode to my office, grabbed my Samsung tablet, and began documenting everything I could recall that happened before my death. Each detail, each slight, each event, poured out onto the screen.
The door slammed open.
I didn't look up, I didn't need to. Only one person in this house lacked the decency to knock.
"Mother," I said coldly, my fingers pausing over the screen. I raised my head to meet her hard gaze.
Emeralda White stormed towards me, Lizzie at her heels, their faces masks of righteous fury. I leaned back in my chair, letting my boiling rage surface. Almost overtaking me. I bit down on my lips harshly to hold myself back.
"What was the meaning of your behavior at the dining table?!" My mother snapped, her hands on her hips in a dramatic parody. Now that I think about it, she had always treated me like a foolish child and Lizzie, a golden goose.
I smiled faintly, rising from my seat. "Could you be more specific, Mother? I'd hate to misunderstand." The fluorescent light with its blue LED at my table made me look menacing as a lion waiting predatory to pounce on its prey.
Lizzie interjected, her voice dripping with fake concern. Her venomous tongue was now on full display, as she tried to paint herself like a white lotus and me, a broken mended jade pendant. "Ammie, you embarrassed all of us. Poor Jamie…."
"Poor Jamie?" I questioned in a confrontational manner. I walked closer to where they were standing and then I stood in front of my huge office desk. "I didn't realize defending myself was such an offense. But then again, you wouldn't know what that's like, would you?"
Her eyes widened, tears welling up as though I had stabbed her on the chest like she did me. She turned to my mother, who instantly drew her into a protective hug. Yah. Ever had of birds of the same feathers. You guessed right. These two are.
"She's just jealous of you," My mother crooned softly to her. She looks at me her voice full of venom. "You've always been more graceful, more beautiful, more... everything than her. And look at her, she is pathetic."
My mother turns her full attention on me, " Ammie," she began in a jarring sweet tone, "No matter how you try to out best Lizzie, you'll never outshine her. She is perfection and you are… " she trails off. My mind completes her words. And I am nothing. Will never be good enough in their eyes.
The words stung, but I refused to let her see it. It has always been that way. I chuckled softly, it was pain-filled one as I shook my head. I wondered why I had been so blind.
"Well, thank you for clearing that up. In that case, why don't you just hand Jamie over to her? It's what you've wanted all along, isn't it?" I shrugged, feigning indifference. "But Grandpa didn't choose Lizzie," I said coldly. "He chose me. That must keep you up at night."
Mother's hand flew toward my face, but I caught her wrist mid-air, holding it firm. It will always be the same. Either in this life or previous life.
"Don't," I said, my voice low, chilly and steady. "You don't get to lay a hand on me anymore."
Lizzie gasped, pulling free from my mother's grasp. "How could you?" she cried, her voice trembling with outrage. "She's our mother!"
"Our?" I let the word hang in the air. "Last I checked, you were a guest in this family, Lizzie. Don't overstep."
Tears streamed down her face as though the flood gates have been opened for her. But I wasn't moved. Maybe in my past life, I would have been the fool, she needed me to be. Not this time.
Turning my back on them, I opened the office door wide. "Leave. Now." I don't mince my words.
My mother glared at me, her face contorted with fury. She looked almost like a clown, but she didn't say another word. With Lizzie clinging to her arm, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
I leaned against the door for a moment, letting the adrenaline course through me. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. I want to win this battle. I am determined to but I am scared I might not.
I went back to my room to get ready for work. Although I was already late. First day of rebirth and I am going to work, late. That got to be the most funny thing to ever exist. I snort at the images flashing through my mind.
I walked into my wardrobe. To pick out an outfit and I am struck dumb, when I see the dab, old clothes on the line. Yeah, I forgot about this.
I had been crazy stupid once even with my clothing choice that I allowed my cousin pick out for me. I can never understand why it never occurred to me that Lizzie hated me and was jealous of me.
Well, I won't be foolish anymore. My drunken foolishness ends now. I thought of what to do and Emily flashes through my mind. I called Emily, my ever trusted PA. She picked up on the first ring.
"Good morning, ma'am. Is everything all right?" she asked.
"Good morning, Emily. Everything's fine, but I need your help with something personal," I said.
"Of course, ma'am. What do you need?"
I hesitated for a moment. A tinged of embarrassment coloring my voice "I need new clothes. Something bold, confident, and more me."
Emily chuckled. "Consider it done. I'll be there in an hour."
True to her word, she arrived with garment bags in hand.
"This is what you need, ma'am," Emily said as she laid out the outfits. A tailored charcoal pencil skirt caught my eye, paired with a cream blouse adorned with delicate ruffles. The look was sophisticated yet commanding, perfect.
Emily worked quickly, styling my hair into a sleek chignon that accentuated my face. When she was done, I barely recognized myself.
"Perfect," I said, meeting her eyes in the mirror. "Thank you."
She smiled. "Always, ma'am."
Downstairs, I was greeted by stunned silence. My parents sat in the lounge with Jamie, their eyes narrowing as I descended the stairs.
Lizzie was the first to break the quiet. "Wow, sister, you look...different," she said, her tone colored with envy. However, I knew better. No praise coming out of her mouth meant well.
True to my thoughts, she proved me right seconds later.
"Sister, shouldn't you apologize to Mother?" she added, trying to stir the pot. Not that I am surprised.
I didn't even spare her a glance. "I have no time for theatrics," I said as I walked past them
My mother's voice followed me. "No matter how you dress, Ammie, you'll never be good enough." I can never understand this woman and her repeating that line of not being good enough. Am I supposed to give a hoot?
I paused, turning to face her. "I don't care what you think, Mother. Your approval is worthless to me."
Without waiting for a response, I walked outside, where my car was already waiting. Emily joined me, her presence a comforting reminder that not everyone in my life was a snake in a green grass.
As the car sped toward SNS Group, I leaned back in my seat, my mind clear. The Whites thought they'd broken me, but they were wrong.
This was just the beginning.