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“I understand you just fine.” I hold my ground, refusing to let him control me too. I'm not a puppet he gets to pull the strings on. I'm my own person, just like his daughter is. “You want her to become what you think she should be.” I point my finger right back at him. “But did you ever think to ask her what she wants? Have you ever stopped to find out what truly makes her happy?”
Her dad chuckles darkly, stroking his hand over his jaw. “My daughter might not see you for who you are, but I do. People like you are going nowhere in life. All you are is muscle with no brains. You're a piece of shit, and I'm not going to let you turn my daughter into a piece of shit whore.”
Gritting my teeth, I lunge at him, grabbing him by the collar. I can't control the anger I feel right now. It bubbles to the surface, and all I see is red.
My insides rip and tear with rage. He doesn't know shit about me. He has no idea where I came from or what brought me here. He has no right to judge me. As if he's some higher power who gets to throw stones without seeing the glass walls around him.
I'm not who he thinks I am. And neither is his daughter.
He grabs me back, wrapping his arm around my neck, trying to get me in a headlock. He's stronger than I expect for a man his age. His bicep presses against the side of my neck, trying to stop the air from getting to my lungs.
I elbow him in the ribs, and he lets out a deep grunt, releasing me enough to slip my head free. He stumbles on his feet, pulling his arm back, and slugging me in the jaw. My head snaps back, but it doesn't faze me at all.
Lurching at him again, I grab him around the neck, and pull his arm behind his back. We're both grunting and growling like territorial beasts.
“Stop it! Stop it!” Millie screams, pushing herself between us. She shoves her hands against my chest, her eyes darting between me and her father. “What the hell is going on?” she asks, her voice frantic.
“Get back inside, Millie!” her father yells between heavy breaths.
“No! I'm not going anywhere! What the hell is happening right now?” She holds her ground between us, refusing to move.
“I just fired this piece of shit, and now I want him gone. Get the hell off my property!” he demands.
“What? Why? Why would you do that?” she asks, her brows furrowing.
“Because he's garbage, Millie, he doesn't belong here. Go, or else!” he snaps, throwing his arm out.
“Or else what? Are you threatening me now,” I ask, pushing back gently against Millie's hand.
Her father smirks, a devilish smirk as his eyes turn to pinpricks. “Do you have any idea what I can do to you? Do know the power I have? I'll have your contractor's license revoked so fast you'll never work in this state again. Now, get the hell off my property, and stay the hell away from my daughter. I don't ever want to see your face again.”
“Dad, no! You can't do that!” Tears begin to fall down Millie's cheeks. Her mouth is open wide, and her entire body goes stiff. “Please, don't do this. You can't.” Her voice fluctuates between anger and sadness. “You can't do this to him. He's done nothing wrong.”
“I can, and I will.” His eyes stay frozen on mine, anger and hatred simmering across the surface. “He doesn't know what's best for you. I do. I can either make your life really easy, or I can make it very difficult, Millie. The choice is yours.”
The anger I feel is painful. It's burning under the surface turning my blood hot as lava. But, then I see her eyes. I see the pain. I see the sadness. I see her life, and how much easier it will be if I'm not in it.
What the hell am I doing right now?
I'm putting her life at risk. Everything she knows, everything she has, everything that can pave the way for her future is right here.
Who am I to tell her what's right for her? Who am I to tell her that risking it all will end in some type of reward?
I can never promise her that she won't be let down or fail. I can never promise her that she'll reach her goals and be successful. All I can do is give her hope. Except hope is only a concept, it's meaningless if there's nothing backing it.
She can gain her own sense of self if she follows her dreams, and in the process she'll lose her family. How can I validate that for her? How I can advise her to make a leap, when it literally orphans her?
