“For what?”
“For the way Huxley treated me.”
She insisted on seeing me forthis? “He’s an adult. Ask him.”
“Is this how you show gratitude for our sacrifice?”
“What sacrifice?” I ask, truly lost.
“Wehavebeen paying for Winona’s treatment. It isn’t cheap.”
“Trying to set an example of generosity for you,” says Nelson.
The words are suffocating. It always comes to this.Be grateful because we are paying for your mother’s care. Do as we say because we are paying for your mother’s care. Don’t you love your mother? Do you want her dead?I look at Karie. “Not for free.”
“Don’t talk to your mother that way,” Nelson says.
“She’s not my mother. And never will be.” I clench my hands to hide the tremor of anger.
He shakes his head, his mouth tight. “You’re a disgrace. I expected you to be a better girl. We taught you better than this!”
“Oh, you taught me.” All the pent-up rage explodes. “And whose example should I have followed?Yours? So you want me to bang somebody and then abandon the child? Or Karie, who used my mother’s medical bills to force me into taking the LSAT for Viv so she could fraudulently get into Harvard Law? You’ve never shown me a single admirable quality, and I’d rather lick shit off the floor of a horse stall than become anything like either of you. Oh, and by the way, pleasedon’tcome to my wedding. It’d be too embarrassing.For me.”
“How dare you!” Nelson shouts.
“Who’s going to walk you down the aisle?” Karie manages. She’s furious, but also concerned about the family image. It’s everything to her.
“I’ll think of someone. And you can bet it’ll be someone who doesn’t always put me down, or threaten to deny my mother medical care she needs. A homeless crack addict would be better than either of you. You’ve never been my family, not in any way that truly matters.”
Nelson jumps to his feet and lunges forward. He raises his meaty hand.
Shock grips me in a tight vise—I can’t move. Fire explodes in my face, and my head snaps to the side. I blink to clear my dimming vision. Coppery warmth fills my mouth, and the inside of my cheek stings.
He’s never gotten physically violent before. He tries to act like he’s above that and silently urges Mick to do his dirty work. Guess I hit too close to the mark and it was intolerable when he couldn’t think of anything clever to rebut me.
“Get out, you ungrateful cunt!”
Nelson’s vicious shout shatters the shocked stupor. I stare at him blankly for a moment, my face throbbing.
“You deserved that.” Karie’s tone is smooth and calm, but a satisfied smirk gives her away. “Next time, show some respect.”
Behind her, Viv is grinning. And probably praying the bruise will still be visible at the wedding.
My brain numb, I seize the chance to leave without saying a word. My hands shake as I fumble for my fob, then climb into my car. The drive home passes like a fever dream, but somehow I find myself back in front of my condo complex.
Still on autopilot, I park the car and step out. My knees feel weak. I shouldn’t be so stunned or upset. Nelson and his family have always hated me. They’re just worried at the possibility that they might not be able to control and abuse me like they used to. They’re probably terrified Huxley will learn what they’ve done to me over the years, especially after the way he showed nothing but contempt for Karie this afternoon.
Will they escalate this violence toward me? I wish there was something I could do. But if I report the incident to the police, nothing will happen. Nelson’s a lawyer, and his son is the DA. Besides, even if the police are sympathetic, Nelson and Karie will withhold payments for Mom’s bills in retaliation. Who knows when I’ll be able to see Andreas and beg for his intervention? By then, it might be too late, and I’d truly end up killing the only family I have.
It’s just a slap—a bruise and a little blood in my mouth. Both will heal. When Mom gets well enough to be discharged, I won’t have to put up with Nelson or any of his family anymore.
“Where have you been?”
I freeze. Huxley appears out of a Bugatti parked two spots away. I quickly step into the building’s shadow. I don’t want him to notice what happened, because if he acts like nothing’s wrong, it’ll be humiliating and painful. There’s a sliver of hope in my heart that maybe…just maybe Huxley won’t be so cruel anduncaring after the way he stood up for me earlier against Karie. But the fear that he might turn his back on me is greater.
At the same time, if he notices and says something… Well, that could be embarrassing. I hate the irrational shame I feel over what Nelson has done. He’s the bad guy, not me!
I try for a steady tone of voice. “What are you doing here?”
