Page 33 of Speak No Claim

She folded her arms over her chest. “I also heard you made quite the impression.”

I blurted, wanting to get a reaction out of her…

* * *

“And I heard I embarrassed your family.”

Chapter

Ten

Hennessy: Don’t listen to what people say, watch what they do.

Her jaw clenched.

Needing her to know the truth, I confessed, “I wasn’t trying to embarrass anyone. Especially a bunch of strangers at a party.”

She tilted her head, countering, “Just yourself then?”

“I just wanted to be alone.”

Her perfectly sculpted eyebrow lifted. “And how’s that working out for you, Hennessy? Are you enjoying all your alone time?”

“So this is my punishment? Neither of you being here?”

“Your uncle is a very busy man.”

“I didn’t see him on campus. Shouldn’t the director of international studies be at work on the first day of school?”

She clipped, “You must have just missed him.”

“I don’t think that’s the case.”

“And what has your wild imagination conjured up now? Is there another tree you need to go climb?”

“Huh, so gloves are off now, or were they never really put on?”

“Hennessy.” She smiled, displaying her impeccable white teeth. “You’re my fiancés niece… let’s not burn more bridges, shall we?” She stepped toward me. “I’m the woman of this house and don’t you forget that, young lady. You’ve already embarrassed us enough, don’t you think?”

“Are you expecting an apology for something I didn’t mean to do?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t like being lied to. I’m not your uncle, little girl, and I expect respect. Especially in my own home.”

“I thought respect is something that you earn?”

“Not here.”

“I—”

“The party was for you,” she pointed out. “I spent the past year planning that for you, and instead of being grateful, you were nothing more than a spoiled brat.”

“Year?” That was the only thing I caught. “I got accepted a month ago.”

She ignored my statement. “We were just trying to welcome you to the Graves Academy, and you shit all over it,” she slightly shouted.

“That party had nothing to do with me and everything to do with appearances. I barely know my uncle. Why would you think I’d want to be welcomed with a room full of strangers?”

“How about being grateful for every string your uncle had to pull for you to even be here?”