SHE LEFT ME TO DIE, NOW I RULE

Chapter 0007: Discarded like a bastard

Rowan let out a bitter laugh. Not the kind that comes from pain, but that type that carried the low cackle that someone is making a big mistake.

"You..called me a dreamer now," Rowan started, "who was it when you complained you needed to upgrade your wardrobe. Who tutored you math when your professor was threatening you with expulsion or open your damn legs to get A. Who supported your mum, stayed with her twenty-four hours when she was in that sick bed?!"

For a second. A splitting second maybe. Guilt was palpable in her expression..or maybe it was pity. The kind of pity that says;

"O, boy! The boy had really suffered!"

"I never begged you to do all of these things Rowan. It was your wish," Anabelle snapped, adjusting the bedsheet on her body. "You're the good guy. So you don't get to rub it on my face now like you've moved the world for me. Any other person could have done any of those things for me."

Rowan smiled, disappointment heavy in his eyes.

The commotion caught the attention of Mr. Bennett and Margaret in the living room and they both walked inside.

"What is going here? Why is there so much noise?" Mr. Bennett stared between the three people, and to Rowan's surprise, his father didn't act surprised to see Jack and..his girlfriend in his room, barely covered up.

He gaze bounced back to Rowan, accusing. "You're causing trouble again? What's your problem?"

"Dad. Really," Rowan said, "You already concluded I'm the one at fault without even asking." His finger snapped to Jack. "He's sleeping with my girlfriend."

To Rowan's shock, there was no slightest hint of surprise on his face.

"That's what real men do, Ro," he said indifferently, "men with real purpose and not some dreamers boy."

Rowan's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Do you really expect a girl as stunning as her to end up with a man like you?"

"Dad..what are you.."

"I'm still speaking." Mr. Bennett cut him off. "Real women won't settle for...a less. If She chose to be with Jack, then so be it. That's what real women do. They make good choices."

Rowan stepped back in shock. He stared at his father, wondering how he got to this. After the death of his mother, his father remarried and he'd changed really bad since then, treating him worse than a bastard.

Jack gloated, crossing his arms over his chest in arrogance.

"You should even be ashamed to drag anything with Jack. He's my real son. Soon, he'll be a certified doctor.

And you, you've been wasting your life, dragging a stunning woman with a man bigger than your entire dream."

Rowan stood there, watching in surprise as his father lashed at him in front of everyone shamelessly. He began to doubt if actually this man demeaning his pride was really his father.

"I regret you. I regret ever having to call you my son," He shook his head disappointingly. "You're not worthy of that surname."

"Sweetheart.." Margaret wanted to protest. But Rowan knew it was all false shield.

"No," Mr. Bennett cut her off politely, his voice hardening on Rowan. "He needs to know what real men do and not some pathetic boy chasing dreams."

He didn't stop. Not yet.

"And if you're so uncomfortable with seeing Ana with Jack, then you can take your things and leave this house for them."

The finality beneath the tone was readable.

Rowan was shocked by the cold declaration. Margaret hid a smirk. Jack crossed his arms on his chest watching in amusement.

"You're throwing me out of your house...our house.." Rowan's voice cracked with disbelief.

Mr. Bennett's lips curled in cruel disdain. "You think your mother will be proud of you like this, Huh?"

"You don't speak about my mother like you know her." Rowan finally snapped, his eyes darkening. "You know nothing about her. You were never here when she carried this family on her back. You were always out, yapping over beer with your friends."

Rowan didn't stop. "When she needed you most when Cancer was sucking her life away on that bed, you never stayed. I did!"

Tension spiked in the room.

Mr. Bennett's eyes darkened. His finger shook as anger overwhelmed him. "You mannerless..." His palm cut through the air like a whip to smack Rowan in the face, but his arm froze in the air.

The room held its breath.

Rowan clamped his wrist, staring hard at the man who he was supposed to call father, the man that was supposed to protect him about to rip him apart in front of the preys.

He shook his head in utter disappointment and stepped backward one step. His voice came low, detached.

"No, Dad. Mum will be very disappointed in you wherever she is," he said,

"and if you're discarding me from your house, then I'll let you know I never came back to stay."

Rowan turned and began to walk out, taking nothing with him.

"You should come back now and beg on your knee while you still can." Margaret said, "walking away won't make your father accept you back. He'll come back begging as usual."

But what they never knew was that... Rowan is gone and never coming back.