ette'

hand, fingers digging into the leather lik

ome. A place that had become nothing but

he door beh

he halls, bouncing off the

ard that goddamn room I shared with Ethan-whe

awling from at this hour?

rp. Disgusted. Dr

eting hers-his mother, the

cracked but calm. I was trying.

ean 'nowhere'? Have you started cheating on my son now?

grabbed my arm, her nai

neak in here, pregnant with some bastard, and expect

eact, the front door

d. Ethan walk

he wasn't alone. He walk

m. Close,

't just crack

ed from my arm as she t

this?" she asked

er, like this wa

Mother. The one who will

was possible, bu

ou're making the right decision now," she said, grin

an turne

at. Stepped closer. Calm. Cold. Like h

ched it

ke this.

ound me felt heavier. I slowly reached for it, my fin

ice breaking. "You're divorcin

st tig

cheated, but now you're h

off, sharp a

gusts me now-your body, your voice, your presence. I've endured it for too

ose, harsh

. And leave t

ft my mouth. I didn't even realize when the tears started falling. I

on my own breath. "What happened to us? You used to call me

t Emelia's hand was already wrapped around his other arm.

ng on?" My voice shook. "How long have

l, disbelief-it all hit me at once. The room

Isn't that obvious?" Ethan snapped. Hi

bled backward, completely caught o

ed, stunned, and tried to get up. Crawling t

y voice was barely a whisper

hen she kicked her foot free from my grip,

om behind, disgust dripping from her tone. She moved

d for... I was there," I said, each word hurting more than the last. "When Mama and Papa threw you out, I took you in. I

ed to search her face, hoping for

g like you did it out of kindness. Our parents threw me out because of you. You were the golden child. Yo

stumbled back, chest heaving. My tears

idn't

r of t

breathe right. "In fact-I'm ready to forget. I'll forget you cheated. I'll forget yo

eely. I reached up, cupping his face with

e grabbed my

y skin, crushing bone.

on't get it, do

ice rose-lo

Love. You