Page 117 of Love Me Not

She leaned against the railing, looking down at the river.The sound of it lapping against the bridge and rocks below hit my ears.

“I’m glad you got out of there,” she said.“My daughter ruins everything she touches.”

Unable to help myself, I snapped back, “Must get that from you.”

“Such confidence for a nanny.”

“Not one anymore.What do you want?”

She turned to me.

“I want you to go and convince Lux to let me see my granddaughter.”

I let out a laugh.“Are you serious?What finally made you realize your scheming wouldn’t work?”

“It’s notschemingif I’m trying to save my grandchild fromher,” she spat.

The small bit of alcohol that had been dormant in my system until then decided to show itself.Feeling a burst of confidence, I leaned closer, dropping my voice to a whisper.

“Bella is better off with Lux than a murderer,” I hissed.

She stared at me for a second, her face giving nothing away.

“Lux is spinning tales again, isn’t she?”

Anger flared through me.

“You can lie to the police, you can lie to your kids, but youcannotlie to me,” I said, my voice raising of its own accord.

Her nostrils flared then, the only sign I got that she was angry.

“Who do you think you are?”

“The daughter of the people you murdered while you were driving drunk.”

Her eyes widened for just a fraction, and then she was back to looking out at the river, her hand gripping the railing so tight her knuckles turned white.

“And here I thought you knew all along,” I said, taking a step back.She refused to look at me again, confirming what I said.“Lux is coming after you.If you know what’s good for you, drop any attempt at a custody battle.It won’t look good for you.”

I turned away, grabbing my phone from my pocket to call Lux.

Seeing her mother in person and giving her a piece of my mind had given me a strength I didn’t know I had.I was going to get that bitch, and nothing she could do would stop me from being with the love of my lif?—

Pain erupted from the back of my head.My phone clattered to the sidewalk.Ringing exploded in my head.Black spots flashed across my vision.

What?

I stumbled against the railing, the only flimsy thing keeping me from falling into the cold depths below.

I forced myself to take deep breaths through the pain, but it was too much.I tried to scream, but my entire body was uncooperative.Useless.My eyes shot to the ground.There was a rock lying there.Blood on it.I could just barely make it out with my fucked-up vision.

There was no one else around besides her mother.No one to help me.No one to save me.

My body felt like it was getting weaker by the second.My stomach lurched.

Move.Move NOW.

I tried to put one foot in front of the other, but my ankles buckled.

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