Deceiving My Bully Stepbrother
Chapter 87

(Heather)

I bounced my leg up and down nervously, my arms crossing in front of my chest as looked out the restaurant window nervously.

How did it come to this? How am I the one who has to beg to Viva when Dave f****d up so badly.

The memories of yesterday's phone call made my face scrunch up into a scowl as I looked down at my chipping nail polish..I couldn't even afford a f*****g manicure anymore.

"Dave..what is going on?! I can't access the accounts..the police have raided the house and no one is telling me anything!" I screamed into the phone, not even letting him speak when I saw the number pop up.

"Heather, shut the hell up for one damn second..Jesus christ.." He snapped before letting out a sigh as I began pacing the hotel room I was now staying in.

Luckily we had some cash I was able to grab before they raided the house..

"They have frozen the accounts..considering Viva's a*****e father put those false claims on me." He grumbled as I began biting my nails nervously.

"So..it..it isn't true?" I asked, making the call go silent.

"Do you seriously think I would be that stupid?" He stated as I shook my head no.

"And Neal..you..you didn't.." I whispered, making Dave scoff.

"No..why would I? Neal was no threat to me..they framed me Heather..and you need to meet up with Viva. You need to get her dad to back off and get enough money to hire me another f*****g attorney." He yelled, making me flinch as my mouth dropped open. "Viva? Are you seriously going to make me grovel at her feet Dave! Do you know how much of an i***t that will make me.." "Just shut the f**k up! You are doing this Heather! If you don't want me to be locked away and our whole lives ruined..then you better do this!!" And here I am..at some f*****g diner out of town waiting for Viva to show.

I can't believe she did this to me..she really couldn't let us be happy? And now she has turned my kids against me..this is all her fault..it has to be.

Suddenly I heard the door chime as my gaze darted across the room.

I couldn't help but scoff..my hands balling into fists as I saw her stride in with her designer pantsuit and freshly done hair. f*****g bitch..

She slowly pulled her sunglasses off before scanning the nearby booths and landing her gaze on me as a smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. "Heather..I'm surprised you really came." She remarked, making me roll my eyes. I watched as she eyed me up and down slowly.

I knew my appearance wasn't great..but of course she had to go all out.

"Now..what do I owe the pleasure?" She asked while sitting down and sliding into the middle of the booth we were at. "Well..I was.." "What can I get to drink for you girls?" An older woman suddenly interrupted, making me whip my head towards her.

"Diet coke" I snapped and couldn't help but feel annoyed as Heather casually browsed the menu, taking her sweet a*s time.

"Can I do a strawberry lemonade please?" She said before smiling brightly as the woman nodded once and turned to get our drinks.

"So..what I was saying.. Dave called and he isn't doing well Viva.." I started off, trying to fight my pride, hating that I had to come to Viva for this.

"Let me guess..Dave called and said it was all a lie..that my dad set him up and he had nothing to do with Neal's disappearance.." Viva sighed, her arms crossing in front of her chest before leaning back as humor filled her eyes.

I was left taken aback for a moment, trying to compose myself as I cleared my throat and placed my hands on the table.

"I know he wronged you..we both did..but Dave doesn't have it in him. He wouldn't do that to the boys. He wouldn't risk the King name like that." I spoke calmly, trying to show I stood behind my husband. I always stood behind Dave..and always will.

"Heather..I was married to the man for twenty-four years and you were his mistress for just as long... So if anything..that just proves what Dave is capable of..you are living proof.." She motioned to me as I curled my fingers up and slid my hand into my lap, trying not

to react.

"Besides..I figured he would have you come crawling soon enough..considering I ignored his calls." She said while reaching down into her purse for something. "Calls, what calls?"

"Oh, did you think you were the only one? I actually answered once..just for curiosity reasons...I thought you might like to hear this." She whispered while pulling out a recorder just as the waitress brought our drinks.

"Are you two ready to order?" She asked, making Viva turn and smile at her.

"I don't think we will be staying much longer, so this will do." She said warmly, making me even more annoyed.

I hate her..I hate her so much.

After the woman placed our ticket down, she walked away as Viva leaned closer.

"Let me..I know you need to save where you can right now."

"Cut the s**t Viva..just play the stupid recording." I grumbled, loathing every minute of this.

"Okay, if you insist..but I'm going to warn you Heather..once you hear this, you are going to realize just how much you destroyed your own life for this man.." She warned, making me roll my eyes as I never thought Viva could be so f*****g dramatic. "I warned you." She whispered before hitting the play button...then a deep voice filled the space between us.

"Viva, you know it never meant anything..it was all a mistake..she seduced me and spread lies about you..then she forced that bastard on me..I tried to get her to end the pregnancy but she wouldn't she was obsessed with me." Dave's voice came out clearly, what he said making my stomach twist as I tried not to react..he was just saying that to get her to help him..yeah, that has to be it.

"Dave..you can't expect me to believe that." Viva sighed over the recording.

"It's true..I love you Viva..it's always been you. I was an idiot.." He said quickly, making bile reach the back of my throat..he didn't even say he loved me so blatantly.. Not real..it isn't real..

"Then why would you have Neal killed for her? You obviously did it to be with her!" Viva yelled over the recording when I glanced up, seeing her now smiling. "Listen..this is the best part." She whispered, causing me to blanch as I knew whatever he was about to say would change everything..

"I did it for us! He was threatening my family with that mistake! He was going to air everything Viva..I needed to placate Heather..she was getting restless.. threatening to air everyhting..I had to divorce you because she was going to ruin it all." He cried..actually f*****g cried as I couldn't believe what I just heard.

That f*****g bastard..

"He's lying!" I shouted a little louder than I meant to.

"Viva..I will leave Heather..after all of this I will..I swear to you..when I'm with her, you are all I think about..don't you miss me Viva? The chemistry we had..remember what happened a few months ago? How I came to you that night.."

"What is he talking about?" I snapped, making Viva lift her lemonade before taking a sip.

"After the divorce was finalized, he came to the house a few nights, saying he regretted it.. The last time he came was three weeks before I knew about the engagement. He was f*****g me behind your back Heather." She explained as I gripped my glass of soda, tempted to throw it agaisnt the wall.

"He was playing you just as much as he was me..do you know why he went through with your engagement? Because I told him no..I said I didn't want to reconcile.." She explained and slid over her phone, revealing text after text of Dave begging for another chance three months before Florida..even the night of our engagement...

I couldn't contain the anger now...my hand lifting up as I threw the drink to the floor, causing the restaurant to go silent. "You risked everyhting for this man..and you lost it all..here is everything you need to know right in this file Heather. The crimes he committed.. the woman he was sleeping with..this is what you gave up your kids for." She whispered as tears filled my eyes before spilling over. Lies..it was all a lie..

I didn't give a s**t about the other woman..I knew about that..but going to Viva and begging for her to take him back..that he yet again tried to choose her over me..that was what broke me.

"I loved him.." I choked out, realizing Viva was sliding out of the booth.

"That wasn't love Heather..he owned you..and he proved that the moment he made you choose your own children over him. And now you really will have to live with that. Because those beautiful kids..they want nothing to do with you." And with that she left..leaving me with nothing but regrets.

Dave King ruined my life..he ruined everything..and now I'm left with absolutely nothing..