Hopefully, my effort will show her that my feelings for her are sincere, and that I’m making a real commitment—not this six-month bullshit. Because just telling her I want to change the agreement wasn’t enough. She needs to see that I care about her through my actions.
“Josh.”
That voice. My jaw clenches and relaxes, but I keep on walking.
“Josh.” A hand grazes my forearm.
I spin around, jerking my arm out of her grasp and raising a fist.
Mom stands with her hands at her sides. A tragic smile graces her beautiful face, tears glistening in her blue eyes. A hell of an act, but not something I’m buying.
A couple of people glance our way. I lower my fist and paste on a smile, aware of the optics. If this is how she wants to do it, we both can play the game.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you.”
“For what? You going into acting? Need a representative so you can make the most out of that talent for lying?”
Her lips tremble. “You don’t have to be so cruel.”
“Cruel?” Rage churns in my head. How dare she come to me? My voice shakes with barely suppressed contempt and fury. “Cruel is drugging your children. Cruel is trying to kidnap them and leaving one to die in a forest fire. Cruel is you showing up again, acting like a fucking victim.”
Her face crumples. “I understand you’re upset.”
“Upset? Is that really the word?” I lean in. “Stop minimizing what you’ve done.”
“Can’t you see that I had no choice? I wanted to keep our family together. I still love your father.”
“I don’t believe you. The gossip rags from your country showed you dancing and partying with all those hot shots. You’ve been living the high life of a mafia princess. Don’t tell me you’ve been repenting for all the things you’ve done.”
Frustration flashes in her eyes. “Akiko has poisoned you against me.”
“She hasn’t done shit. That woman was an angel for marrying a single dad with three fucked-up kids, who were fucked up because ofyou. She could’ve married anyone, but she married Dad because she loved him. She never planned to use him or the family. She always supported me and my brothers. She’s the mom IwishI’d had.” I point my finger at Mom, who’s gazing at me like my words are shredding her. “It disgusts me that your blood flows in my veins. I’ll never be like you.”
A single tear wells and then falls from her right eye. “No. You say that because youarelike me. I don’t take kindly to people who hurt me, either. But there is a difference between us. I’m capable of realizing when something has been done for my sake, whether I wanted it or not. And I know how to appreciate that.” She draws herself up. “Later, perhaps, when you’re older, you’ll understand what I’ve done for you.”
How can she say so much bullshit with such sincerity?It’s sickening. “Is that why you went after Klein and burned down her apartment building?”
“Klein? You mean Ailee?” She frowns. “You know why I did that.”
“No. I don’t.”
Mom shoots me pitying look. “I could tell you were in love with her. But for some reason, you kept resisting. I just wanted to give you a little push. It wasn’t that difficult.”
“Most people would just set up a date.”
Mom blinks. “Adate? But that’s so…plebian. How about I take care of that obnoxious dentist for you instead? Would that prove my sincerity?”
“Please, don’t. I don’t need your brand of ‘help.’ And stop interfering in my life.”
She sighs, as though she can’t fathom what she’s supposed to do with a singularly stubborn child. “You’re just upset because youthinkI used Kenna to spy on you.”
“Didn’t you?” I say. “You weren’t supposed to approach us until we turned thirty, but you sent her to us way before that. Just like with my girlfriend back in high school.”
“It isn’t my fault your girl wasn’t seasoned enough to be subtle,” Mom says, like I’m unfairly accusing her.
“You broke the spirit of the divorce agreement.”
