Page 122 of Corrupt Me

“Dad, it was not your fault.”

His nostrils flare. “I even promoted that cunt. But I’m glad she’s in hell, where she’ll rot.” He inhales deeply and says, “Tell me.”

I recount everything. It’s like my soul wants my past purged once and for all because it’s been ten minutes of me talking and barely taking a breather.

Relief. That’s what I feel once the story is out in the open. The power abusers have is your silence. And while it’s the hardest thing to speak on, gaining back control over my life is worth it.

“My precious warrior of a son. I am so proud of you. And your mother would be too. She would love how grown up you are and how good and strong of a man you are. She would love Bailey too. I know I do—for loving my son so much, she killed his abuser. I wish it were me.”

“I don’t think anyone could have stopped her.” Once Bailey sets her mind on something, she never wavers.Come on, life, try to fuck with us. Our strength combined would kick you even harder.

“I will have to fly to London and bury the issue.”

Literally.

My father drops to his knees and sobs. Seeing this man—my unshakable, cliff-like father—subdued by pain and regret tears something deep inside of me. I kneel in front of him, and he clutches my shoulder, pulling me to his chest.

“I’m so sorry you went through that. You did nothing wrong, you hear me?”

“It’s okay, Dad. I am well now.”

It’s not a lie, and I refuse to give Alice even more power over me. I was indeed a victim, but I won’t continue to be one. I survived and found Bailey, who loves all the broken pieces of me. Everything I held in me for so long broke free, liberating me. The despair of that boy who took it because he made himself believe it’s okay rather than accept that it’s not, is gone. I feel lighter, freer.

He shakes his head, his brows furrowed in deep thought. “That should have never happened. How could I not see the signs?”

“I hid it really well, Dad, and you gave me a purpose that kept me afloat.”

That’s the truth. Without his plans for revenge and returning to Greenville, I don’t know if I could have managed.

“Why?” he whispers, the pain evident in his voice.

I expected this question to come, but it made me vulnerable even with all the preparation.

I hold his gaze to anchor myself, and my shoulders droop. “I blamed myself for Mom’s death. We would have never gotten into the accident if I hadn’t insisted on going to the mall that day. I thought it was my fault. I was drowning in guilt, and Alice took advantage of that by offering me her love. It felt good in the beginning, having someone who loves me despite thinking I didn’t deserve it.”

I received it. Too much of it. All of it wrong.

He pulls me into a tight embrace, and in his arms, that child in me finally receives all the support and understanding I denied myself then. If I hadn’t done it, Alice wouldn’t have been able to abuse me. Love was something I loathed and despised because it felt wrong—it made me feel dirty.

Without having to look, I know who’s here—my sister. Close behind her is Celine, who may not be blood-related but is family all the same.

They both rush over, dropping to their knees beside us. Together, my family forms a protective cocoon around me. It makes me so emotional I barely hold on to my tears.

“I want to resurrect her and kill her a hundred times over,” my sister says, hugging me tightly.

Celine places her cheek on my shoulder, brushing along my arm. “I wish I would’ve gotten to her sooner to torture her for days.”

I exchange a look with my father. It’s done. That’s what matters. They could kill her a hundred times, and they wouldn’t feel better.

“I am good, by the way,” I say to break a bit of the stifling tension.

“Of course you are. We heard you all night long,” Celine says teasingly.

“How long did you wait to say that?”

“I would have kept it longer, but you being you…” she adds, smiling, crying, and hugging me all at once.

“It’s so gross,” Mia says, and we both shudder.

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