No More Victim: Love's Dark Turn

ning, I call

she answered, her voi

gan, making my voice sound hesitant and a little sad. "Abou

t unkindly, but with the finality of a judge

there for Chloe. I feel so terrible that we' ve drifte

"Ava, there' s no

oment. I took

if I paid for my o

is. The kind of place

don' t mean just my share. I mean, what if I paid for the whole trip? Everything. The gas,

ozen in shock. The concept was so alien, so outside the established order of our family, that she pr

of money?" she finally asked,

e and bought a whole series. It was a... a significant amount." It was a pl

r with suspicion in her mind. I knew gree

she asked, the wor

"I want to do this for you. For t

d imagine the conversation perfectly. Richard, ever the opportunist, would see

voice completely transformed. It wa

st generous offer I have ever heard. We had no idea you w

as so thick it

asked, playing the part

. "We wouldn' t dream of having it any o

was grudgingly compliant. The lure of a fully-fund

getting a free ride. If you' re comi

osphere was entirely different. They welcomed me with smiles. My mother

le they laid out their demands, framing

aning back in his armchair. "My nerves aren' t what they use

age," my mother added. "We can'

s surrounded by cushions. "And not gas station junk. I' ll give you a list. And you

their maid. I was to be on call 24/7 for Chloe' s every whim. I was to be silent un

ch fresh humiliation, the cold, hard knot of vengeance in my gut grew tighter. They saw m

ed, I looked up at them, my e

ything for my family. Thank you. Thank you

had their money, their control, their sc

at by accepting my offer, they had just handed me the keys to their g