Page 226 of Fame & Rhythm

“I have a mother,” I snap. “And she would never ask me for something like this. Is this why you came to me? Because you need money?”

“No, of course not—”

“How am I supposed to believe that?”

Her expression changes in an instant. The softness disappears, replaced by something cold and hard. “So you’re not going to help me?” she asks, her tone flat.

“No.”

She lets out a sharp breath. “Well… that makes things a little more complicated.”

A flicker of unease runs through me. “I think you should leave.”

She ignores that, stepping closer instead. “You really won’t give me anything? Nothing to help me stay here and build a relationship with you?”

“No,” I repeat, firmer this time.

Her face twists, irritation flashing across her features. Then she moves closer, too damn close, until she’s right in front of me.

I fight the instinct to step back.

“You ungrateful little bitch,” she spits.

I blink, stunned. “What?”

“You heard me… ungrateful.” Her voice rises, venom spilling out. “I gave birth to you. I’m the one who had to sit in a hospital detoxing while you struggled to breathe. They should have been worried about me, but no… everything was about you. You were born with drugs in your system. You should have died!” Her words hit like a physical blow. “Without me, you wouldn’t even exist,” she continues, her voice shaking with rage. “So the least you could do is give me some money to make up for everything I had to go through for you.”

“Are you serious right now?” I whisper, disbelief cutting through the anger.

She laughs, a harsh, bitter sound right in my face. “Deadly serious. So here’s what’s going to happen. You give me the money, or I start talking. To the papers. About everything.” A cold chill slides down my spine. “Things you don’t even remember,” she adds. “You were six months old when they took you from me. That first six months?” She leans in slightly. “You don’t even want to know what happened to you, Annie.”

My stomach churns. “What are you talking about?”

“Give me the money,” she snaps, her composure cracking completely.

I take a step back, my heart hammering now, anger finally catching up with the shock. “No. Get out of my life.”

Her eyes flare with rage. “Give. Me. The. Money.”

“No. Fuck off,” I yell.

Her hand comes out of nowhere.

The crack echoes as it connects with my cheek, snapping my head to the side. Pain explodes across my face, sharp and immediate.

“Hey!” Aston shouts, rushing toward me.

I bring my hand up to my cheek, the sting burning under my skin as he reaches my side.

“Give. Me. The. Money!” she screams.

Mum lunges forward, shoving Loretta back before grabbing her by the scruff of the neck. “If you ever, and I mean ever, lay a hand on my daughter again, I swear to God I will kill you myself,” Mum growls through gritted teeth.

Dad is there in an instant, pulling her back before she can do more damage.

I stand frozen, trying to reconcile the woman who smiled at me minutes ago with the one standing in front of us now.

She’s unhinged.