Leander slams his car door, but instead of going to his daughter, he approaches me. “You told her.” It’s not a question, but a certainty that she learned about their deception from me.
“Youtold me.” Cori points at her father. “I heard you two talking about it a few weeks ago. I learned quite a bit. How you lied to me and told me Mother didn’t know. You ordered me to keep quiet; meanwhile, she knew all along and went with it. I also know what you did with the rent money you were taking from me.”
“Cori.” Leander raises both arms. “The apartment costs about four times the money you paid me.”
“But I gave you the unit for free, Leander.” He shakes his head as if my words would disappear.
“Remember when you told me that Devin had nothing to do with me marrying Dax? That wasn’t true, was it? You chose Devin over me. Again. Admit it, Dad.”
“Cori, no one chose anyone over you, baby. Your brother has a hard time holding down a job, and your father was trying to help him. Don’t blame him. It was my idea.”
Her mother’s car door opens, but her father runs to her. “Annette, stay in the car.” He slams her door and goes around to his. I wait to hear what he’s going to say, but he gets in the car and speeds away, leaving Cori alone with Ruby and me.
Chapter 63
Cori
Instead of going home, I have Dax drive us to my parents’ house. They didn’t bother to leave Ruby’s car seat, so I had to sit in the back seat with her on my lap.
The house was empty when we arrived, but about an hour and a half later, Devin and Dad’s cars pull into the driveway at the same time.
I wait by the door while Dax feeds Ruby in the kitchen. Mom’s already crying by the time she makes it inside. She reaches for me, but I step back.
“Dax, let’s go,” I yell, but he’s busy making airplane noises while he feeds Ruby. I point at Devin, who knocks my hand away. My husband notices, because he leaves Ruby and stands between us. He shoves Devin, who hits the wall.
My mom screams, and my father helps her to the sofa.
“Don’t touch my wife,” Dax warns.
“Screw you both.” Devin is dismissive as he straightens and walks away. Instead of going to his daughter, he walks to the back of the house.
“Go finish feeding your daughter,” Dad yells.
“Get off my back. I’m tired. Can I get a minute? I’m so sick of you yelling at me just for existing.”
“For being a loser,” I yell. Dax takes my hand and starts to pull me toward the door.
“Cori, your mother and I need to talk to you,” Dad says.
“No. I’ve been trying to set a boundary with you for months, and you walked all over it today. I need space from you. I’m tired of being your scapegoat. Ruby is Devin’s daughter, not mine.”
“I never asked you to do shit for me,” Devin yells. “Get over yourself. You think you’re so special when you were bought and paid for. Dad chose Mom’s surgery over you. He was sending me the money you were paying him for rent.” Dad gasps. “Yeah, I heard you and Mom talking about it, and when Dad saw me, he ordered me not to tell you. But thanks for the money. I needed it. And yeah, they took it from you and gave it to me, even though they knew you were saving to start your business. They put me first. Now, you think you’re special because you have a business. A business he gave to you for lying on your back for him.”
“Devin!” Mom gasps through her tears. “You will apologize right—”
Mom never finishes her sentence because I smack my brother across the face. Devin raises his hands as if he’s going to hit me back, but Dax wraps his hand around his wrists, shoves his chest with his free hand, and punches him in the mouth.
Blood gushes down Devin’s chin. He stands there as if he’s in shock. Dax punches him in the stomach, and he doubles over. My mother screams, and Dad rushes to stand between them before Dax can hit him again.
“Don’t lay another hand on my son,” Dad warns.
“I’m just getting started.” Dax goes around my dad, grabs Devin by the collar, and slams him against the wall.
“Let him go,” Mom says through her tears, but Dax punches him one more time. Devin falls on his knees while blood spills down his face. He finally drops face down on the floor, moaning in pain.
“Oh, Devin. You got your ass kicked over news I already know. Did you think your words would hurt me?” The truth is, his words do hurt. Not because they came from him, but because the entire family knows that I’ve always suspected.
Dad helps Devin to his feet. Once he’s upright, he yanks away from Dad and walks out the front door, slamming it so hard that Ruby starts to scream.
