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“They commended her for taking responsibility. For not wanting to intrude on Reese’s life. They called me the terrible one for suggesting she get rid of the damn thing. But that’s alright. You want to know the poetic part? The little slice of justice that came from that? They’d all gone out as a family one night to dinner. Without me, of course. They weren’t appreciative of my particular attitude on the situation. It was rainy. Daddy wasn’t driving as well as he used to and—well, needless to say I am now a part of a considerably smaller family. Miracle, though, that little Violet lived. Did you know those were my sister’s favorite type of flower? Violets.”
I frown as the pieces start to click together, although the picture it forms is so disgusting that all I want is to shake my head and make it stop. “Your family died and you took Violet in…”
She nods, eyes huge. “At first, it was fun. People give you so much attention when you’ve lost more than half your immediate family in a car crash. But taking care of a baby is incredibly menial. It’s disgusting. So I drove the little brat to her father’s. I was going to wash my hands of it. and then you happened. I thought… well, if there’s anyone who actually deserves the spot you’ve got, it’s me, isn’t it?”
I’m still too stunned to speak. The woman in front of me is unraveling, but that crocodile smile stays plastered to her face.
She arches a brow. “Did you know that children of identical twins are biologically their aunt or uncle’s children, too?”
My mouth is dry as I try to swallow. “That’s how you planned to keep up the scheme. That’s how you passed the DNA test.”
Holly claps her hands together. “And it’s worked out wonderfully! Reese is under my thumb now and you’re going to stay here until I decide exactly what I want to do with you. I can’t exactly have you getting out, can I? And yet I’ve never really liked pets. But maybe the satisfaction of watching you rot here, while I’m living the life you tried to steal for yourself will change that opinion. Dinner does taste so much better when the dog is at your feet begging for a bite, doesn’t it?”
“You’re fucking sick,” I rasp at her. “Deranged. You belong in an institution.”
“And you belong in a whorehouse, with the way you’ve spread your legs and reaped the benefits of your glorified sugar daddy, but I wasn’t going to throw insults like that at you.” She smiles. “There’s also the matter of your baby… but I’ve learned a lot about how to get rid of unwanted children in the last year. So, while you’re fuming at me… perhaps consider that little bit of information, Olivia.”
With that, she turns and leaves.
I’m in the darkness again. But this time, it all seems so much bleaker.
56
REESE
I thought that I was in hell last year when Olivia and I split.
I was wrong.
This is hell.
Giving in to Holly’s evil is a new brand of existential turmoil. She’s with me, constantly. She goes to practice with me. I can’t go to team nights out without her wanting to hang off my arm, to drink and party like she’s one of us.
I don’t even get the sanctity of my own home to myself with her around.
She’s a gold-digger, through and through. Everything she says is about how expensive what I have is. She’s already come up with a list of things she wants to add to the penthouse to make it more like “her,” since it’s going to be “our little oasis together.”
Her words. Not mine.
Every time she speaks, I get the urge to hit something. Her voice is a constant reminder that Olivia isn’t here. The only reason I can tolerate this shit is knowing that Olivia is safe. Somewhere out there, she’s living a life without me.
I hope to God she’s happier for it.
“Reeeese! Quit standing over there by yourself looking so sour! They’re ready for us!”
I take in a breath and hold my tongue, though all I want is to tell this bitch to fuck all the way off.
We’re at a photoshoot. Her idea. Family pictures at various locations all throughout the Dallas area. The front is that she wants us to be shown as a “cohesive family unit.” I can see through the façade, though—she wants to smear and erase every possible trace of doubt there could be about the legitimacy of our relationship.
She thinks she’s going to replace the memory of Olivia with herself.
I have to do this, I remind myself. For Olivia’s safety. For Violet’s.
I look up to see Holly standing on the stairs of the museum. She’s in a little skirt-and-suit combo. I’ve noticed she always tries to be as put together and seductive as possible. It’s like she needs as much attention as possible from everyone in the room. All eyes on her. Everyone adoring, praising her.
It’s fucking disgusting and irritating all at once.
Of course, she doesn’t have Violet in her arms—not just yet. For all the happy home, happy family bullshit she’s been trying to shove down my throat like a rusted silver spoon, she doesn’t have a motherly bone in her body. I can see it in her eyes sometimes. It’s like she resents Violet.
