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“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Olivia said, not looking up from the black, orange, and neon green poster she was painting not too far away.
“Did you get any calls?” Rita asked.
“Nope, nothing.”
“See?” Bella said. “He’s grasping at straws. I bet he doesn’t even know about the party. And even if he does, he won’t get me.”
“Obviously, since you won’t be there.”
Bella squared her shoulders. “Yes, I will.”
“Not a chance!”
The sisters stared each other down.
“I’m staying here,” Bella said. “Do you expect me to lock myself in my room upstairs while everyone parties down here?”
“You can stay at my house, safe and sound. Grayson and I have upgraded the security system and—”
“Hold up. You want me to stay at the one place Father has come looking for me? The one place he would come back to?”
“Did you hear what I said about the security system?”
“You can’t stop me. I’m anadult. I can make my own decisions.”
“But you came tomefor help. I’ve dealt with our father and come out on the other side.”
“I can do the same.”
“Yes, if you do what I say.”
“You said I don’t have to obey anyone. I’m an adult, I make my own decisions, and I decided I’m going to the party.”
Rita clenched her jaw. “It’s a bad idea. You’d be inviting him and Neil to show up and drag you back home. Do you think you’d be able to escape a second time? Do you?”
“You can’t tell me what to do!” Bella ran from the room.
Rita turned to Ari and Maya. “Can one of you try to talk some sense into her? I don’t know why she won’t listen to me. I’ve been through all of this before.”
Maya arched a brow. “She’s right.”
“Excuse me?”
“Bella’s twenty. She needs to make her own decisions. If she wants to be at the party, she should go. We won’t let your old man in. Simple.”
Rita glanced at Ariana. “You’re on my side, right?”
“It isn’t about sides,” Maya said. “She’s an adult who just broke free from overbearing parents. Let her live her life and make her own choices.”
“Bella isn’t a normal college student! My father won’t hesitate to drag her back home and hurt her! He sees her as his property, and he thinks she’s defying him. This is serious.”
“Why didn’t he ever dragyouback home?”
“Because he sees me as Boone’s property. It wasn’t his place. He wouldn’t step on another man’s toes like that. The men only have respect for one another.”
“Then I guess this is between you and your sister.”
Rita threw Ariana a pleading glance.
