Rapid escalation

(Author's note: This chapter has a warning for physical abuse)

'...Yeah, I run the group. I've been organising the anti-Tiberium protests.'

'What the hell is wrong with you?! Have you any idea how much you've embarrassed me? You've made a complete and utter fool of me!'

'I-It's not about you, D-Dad... I was just standing up for what I believe in-'

'I don't give a shiny shit about what you believe in! What I care about is my reputation, and my career! Your moralistic bullshit doesn't come into it!'

'Dad, please...'

'You've never been able to see that. You never learned the importance of making sacrifices for my sake. You're a horrible, selfish waste of air.'

'Th-That's not fair...'

'What a disappointment you are. I can't stand fucking do-gooders like you. I'm ashamed to have raised you.'

'...Raised me? L-Let's be honest Dad, you haven't done much of that, have you?'

'Excuse me?'

'That makes it sound like you've put your heart into bringing us kids up. Like hell you have. You've only ever cared about being nice to Tristan! The fact is, Dad, you've been nothing but a bully to the rest of us!'

'Watch your fucking tongue!'

'No! I might be a do-gooder, but I'd rather be that than a tyrant! Because that's what you are, Dad! You just throw your weight around, intimidating the rest of us into doing what you want! All you do is make us miserable, with your fucking tantrums and threats!'

'How fucking dare you disrespect me like that! Who the fuck do you think you are to speak to me like that?! I wish you'd never been born, you pathetic, worthless, disappointing brat!' 

'I hate you, Dad! I wish you were dead!'

*SMACK*

*PUNCH*

'How fucking dare you hurt our son!'

'...Right. That's it.'

'You're coming with me.'

'No!'

'Zeus, get upstairs, before I fucking make you.'

'No, I can't!'

'I-It's okay, sweetheart... I'll talk to your father alone.'

'Mum, please!'

'Don't worry about me, honey. It'll be okay, I promise. Go upstairs.'

'Mum...'

'You have one hell of a nerve, Roxxi.'

'I wasn't going to just stand there and let you hit Zeus! Everything he said about you was right! I can't believe you...'

'He made me lash out. Anybody would have been pushed to their limits, dealing with an ungrateful cunt like him.'

'What's he supposed to be grateful for? You picking on him and treating him like shit?'

'The fact that I work fucking hard to put food on the table for this family! You all just throw it back in my face! None of this would be happening if you just went along with what's best for us! You're all the same. No doubt they've got their insolence from you.'

'I gave you what you wanted for years, Tate. I let you do whatever you pleased. You treated me like a prize to be shown off in front of your posh circle, then a blowup doll when we got home.'

'Because that's exactly what you signed up for, you stupid bitch. Don't complain about things you agreed to. You had no problems when it worked out in your favour, did you? You happily accepted all of my money. The spa days, the jewellery, the makeup, the expensive clothes. The fact that being with me put you back in good favour with your family. Hear that, Roxxi? You were nothing before I came into your life. Your parents thought you were a useless slut. They only care about you now because of me, and simply put? They care more about me than they ever cared about you.'

'It's not worth it. None of it was worth having to put up with you.'

'Not just your parents. Your whole family. Even your own sister gets more out of me than you.'

'...What do you mean?'

'Are you really that blind? We've been fucking for years, Roxxi. She didn't need any convincing either. She was more than happy to stab you in the back, because she'd rather be my sugar baby than keep any kind of loyalty for you.'

'What?!'

'It's true. And who exactly did you think fathered Marigold and Peach?'

'No...'

'Oh yes. Haven't you seen their eyes? They have my eyes. Three years and you never once suspected. You're even more braindead than I thought you were.'

'How...How could you?!'

'Easily. She's a younger, hotter version of you with none of the whining. As if I wouldn't take the opportunity.'

'You're fucking awful... why? Why are you telling me this?'

'Because you won't make it out of here alive.'

'No... Tate, please, you can't...'

'Why not? I think you've long since outlived your usefulness. I can't have a wife who thinks it's acceptable to hit me. You won't even fuck me any more.'

'The kids need me! Especially Julius, he's still only little! H-he doesn't have a bond with you! You can't take his mummy away!'

'You're a hopeless parent, Roxxi. What will they learn from you, other than how to be a whore? I can easily find your replacement. After Sheri died, it only took me two weeks to find you. So why would I struggle to do it again?'

'You w-won't get away with it! What are you gonna do, sneak my body past Topaz? The triplets will know what you've done! You can't expect them to just ignore it!'

'If they know what's good for them, that's exactly what they'll do. In any case... I'm above the law. You've seen that. I'm untouchable. There's no question about me getting away with it.'

'Father, what are you doing?'

'Go back upstairs, Tristan.'

'No, I won't! I can't let you carry on treating Mum like this!'

'This argument has nothing to do with you.'

'Of course it has something to do with me! Father, I've put up with a lot of things, but I can't let this one slide.'

'What are you talking about?'

'I know this isn't the first time you've threatened Mum's life.'

'Tristan, honey...'

'Whatever you're planning, please stop. We all love her so much... I know your marriage is in a bad place, but you can't hurt her. I won't let you!'

'Tristan-'

'Father, I beg you. Leave her alone.'

'Hmm...'

'Topaz!'

'What's going on in there?'

'Please help! I'm scared about what Dad's gonna do!'

'Okay, leave it to me!'

'Mr Farrington? Is everything okay here?'

'Everything is fine. Go back to the door, please.'

'I just heard arguing, and I think the kids are worried about it escalating. I'm not really comfortable just leaving it like this.'

'That's none of your business.'

'Father, she's right. Why don't you go out for a while, give it some space to calm down?'

'This is my house. I'm not going anywhere.'

'Please? You trust me, don't you?'

'Of course I do.'

'So humour me? Just let it all cool off for now. By the time you come back, we'll have forgotten it all. I promise.'

'...Fine. I see your point.'

'Topaz, don't let anybody else leave.'

'Okay, sir.'

'H-Holy shit...'

'Wow, I can't believe that worked.'

'Oh my God, come here!'

'Tristan, I need you to pack a bag... Can you do that?'

'Yeah. I know, we don't have a choice now.'

'Thank you, darling... tell your siblings to pack too. We can't stay here any longer...'