Page 193 of Poison Aches

“Your father is the governor of New York and a high-profile man and you don’t have any training, so you will stay here.”

My father? The hell is she on?

“Mrs. Hughes, you might have made leaps and everything you can for your husband, but I won’t be doing the same just because you say so. That man is not my father,” I state, trying not to grit my teeth. “And you are nothing to me. I don’t care about your lives. Now, if you’ll give me what I came for, I’ll be on my way.”

Beverly turns to look at me. “I don’t know how you were raised to be so rebellious and disobedient, but I will not have that.”

“Excuse you?”

“I won’t allow you to ruin Theodore’s career, so you will go to your room. Brunch will be brought up for you if you’re hungry. Then later, the garment makers will be here to get your measurements.”

It's as if I’m watching my freedom being snatched from me in front of my eyes.

“What makes you think you can tell me what to do?” I demand, crossing my arms. “I made it clear last night that I’m not your puppet! I won’t be doing any of what you think I’ll do.”

Well—” Melissa starts, but her mother cuts her off.

“Mel, my baby,” Beverly starts as she turns to look at her with a smile. “Why don’t we go to the city to shop for tonight? We can also grab lunch.”

I clench my fists at my sides.

“Oh, can we?” Mel suddenly perks up excitedly. “I have this dress I really want to wear!”

“Good, now quickly go change and let’s go.”

At that, Melissa rushes up the stairs and is gone.

Beverly turns to me, then she starts walking in my direction. Before I even realize it, she’s right in front of me.

“You said you were raised very well by Marie and Samuel Irving,” she starts, her voice now firm, hard, and void of any emotion. “Well, that means you love them.”

“I do,” I admit. “Something you’ll never know.”

“Then you are weak.”

I stare at her, stunned.

“It’s their love and care that destroyed them, did you ever realize that?”

“What?” I frown.

“I knew you were just a naive girl that sees the world through rose-colored glasses,” she says. “But I didn’t expect you to be this silly!”

“Well, I’m sorry to have disappointed you and your expectations.”

“You clearly resent me, I get that,” she goes on. “But at the very least shouldn’t you open your eyes? Have you never wondered why they never left that damned town?”

My heart kicks in my chest at her words.

“That town did nothing but trap my parents, chain them to the point where they’ve never been able to leave and guess what, little girl, they’ll never leave,” she grits out, anger alight in eyes so similar to Grammy’s. “I had to leave, and I fought tooth and nail to not fall into the same pit they did, and now here you are, crucifying me for the choices I made.”

I stare at her, not knowing what to say.

“See, I’ve worked severely hard to get to where I am today, and I will be damned if a little girl that I gave birth to destroys that,” she murmurs in a low tone. “You will do as you were created to do.”

Something about the way she’s looking at me, the way the temperature of the room drops, the way I suddenly feel like I’m being caged makes me almost take a step back.

“And if I don’t?” I counter, holding her stare.

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