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So, am I going to make a scene in front of them? Hell yes, I am.
“Sutton.” She plasters on a fake smile, glancing around at her company to see who’s looking. “How…nice of you to show.” Her eyes move down to my outfit, and there’s no hiding her disdain. “But, sweetie, what in the world are you wearing?”
“Sutton.” My dad—Sam—stands, instantly walking to me and putting his hands on the tops of my arms. “What a surprise.” I can see the emotion in his eyes as he takes me in. Hugging me, he whispers, “Thank you. Thank you for finally coming back to us.”
I rear my head back. “What?”
He looks confused. “You haven’t taken my calls or emails for months. Your mother said you just needed time, that you had asked that we stay away from you. But I have to tell you, it’s been hard.” He swallows, his eyes moving to Hunter. “I’m sorry for what I said to you on the phone, Hunter. I was just pissed. Mad that you were spending time with Sutton when she had cut me out.”
Hunter scowls. “Yeah, uh, I think your story is twisted, Sammy. Better ask your wife what the truth is.” He glares at my mother. “Right,Helen?”
By now, we’re causing a scene. And even though a few of their table partners have gotten up and left, two remain, watching every move.
Standing, my mother walks to me, grabbing my elbow. “Let’s talk somewhere more private.”
“No,” I snap. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
I point to Sam. “Does he even know the truth,Mother? Have you lied to him throughout your entire marriage? Does he know who you really are? The monster you are?”
“Helena, what is she talking about?” He frowns. “I’m so confused.”
She opens her mouth to talk, but I hold my finger up, pointing it in her face.
“He’s not dumb enough to not know that I’m not actually his kid. Because he can do math,” I growl. “But does he know that I’m not the only child you abandoned?”
I glance at Sam, and his face pales.
“Sutton,” he whispers. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. Your mother…she told me how awful your father was. I never wanted you to try to find him.” His face fills with regret. “I didn’t know what else to do.” He looks at my mother, and his eyebrows pull together. “What is she talking about? Do you have another child?”
“She sure as fuck does,” Brody says, appearing out of nowhere with Bria at his side.
I swear I hear a few people gasp when they see him—in his faded blue jeans, white T-shirt, and tattoo-covered arms. Though I know the old biddies are raking their eyes over him like a dang snack while clutching their pearls.
When I called him a few days ago, telling him what I was going to do, he told me he didn’t think he was going to show up. He said he didn’t care about finding closure with our mother. Looks like he changed his mind.
“Brody O’Brien?” Sam’s eyes widen. “Defensemen for the Tampa Bay Lightning?”
“In the fucking flesh, Senator.” Brody nods, pointing to me. “I’m only here for Sutton.”
My mother pales, appearing like she could pass out as she looks at Brody. Emotion is all over her face, but I can’t dissect what the emotion is.
“Brody was abandoned as a young toddler by his mother,” I say, my voice small. “Left with an abusive, alcoholic maniac of a man.” My gaze shifts to my brother before moving back to Helen. “You,Helen, left him.” I give my head a slight shake. “It was bad enough that you abandoned me, cutting me off like I was nothing just because I no longer fit into your perfect little world.” I wave my hand around, raising my voice. “This fake, shallow, conceited world.” My hand motions to Brody. “But the fact that you didn’t take him with you when you fled?” Tears pool in my eyes because I know I am the product of an absolute monster. A true villain. “You are a bad person, Helen. And I hate you for what you did.”
“Helena, is this true?” Sam growls, putting his hands on her arms and giving her a soft shake. “You left a child—thischild—behind?” He stumbles back, dragging his hand over his head. “And for months, you told me that Sutton cut us off. That she blocked our numbers and needed space.” He looks at her, disgusted. “That’s not true, is it? It was you all along.”
“Samuel, please,” my mother cries. “She was never going to listen to what I said. She was determined to do things her way.” She shifts her eyes to me, snarling, “You were going to wind upjust. Like. Me,Sutton. I could tell you were throwing your life away and you were going to be stuck, never knowing what could have been.”
“Brooks University is a far cry from throwing my life away,” I say bitterly. “And no matter how many colleges I transfer from—or hell, even if I drop out altogether—I’ll still be twice the person you willeverbe.” I inhale, standing tall. “I didn’t come here to tear your life down even though…honestly, this right here is exactly what you deserve. I came here for me. To look you in the eyes and say that I don’t care what you think of me. And I don’t care that you couldn’t love me enough to stand by my side.” I grab Brody’s hand. “Wedon’t care. We’re moving on.”
“I didn’t have a choice,” she hisses, looking at Brody. “That man was going to kill me.”
Brody’s eyes dance with mischief, and he moves in a little closer to her. “Yeah? Well, the only reason I’m glad he didn’t is because if he did, I wouldn’t have Sutton. If it wasn’t for her, I’d just have assumed your plastic, Botoxed ass was rotting in hell.” His lip turns up. “Remember, when Sammy here shitcans you after we leave…you can go back to riding cock for a living.”
Turning toward me, he gives my hand a squeeze before releasing it. “You ready to get out of here, away from these losers?”
“Hell yes.” I smile through the pain that radiates throughout my body. Slowly making its way out of my being.
“Sutton, wait,” Sam says, catching my hand. “Had I known that your mother was lying, I would have come to you much sooner. I had no idea that this whole time, you thought we…or I cut you off.” He dips his head. “I would never do that. Blood or not, you’re my daughter. You willalwaysbe my daughter.”
