Page 73 of Love Me Not

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’m staying here.”I looked squarely into her grandma’s eyes.I didn’t really know what their relationship was, but I ventured, “Weird that you chose a time when Lux is at work to come here.You wouldn’t be planning on stealing her, would you?”

She let out a bark of a laugh.I saw nothing of Lux in her except for maybe hair and eye color.

I almost wondered how this person could even have given birth to someone as wonderful as Lux.

“You must really not know who I am.”She stood, closing the space between us.“And it wouldn't be stealing.”She was so close I got hit with her nauseatingly sweet perfume.“I’d be taking back custody.”

It felt like a bucket of ice-cold water being thrown over me.She won’t fucking dare.I won’t let her.

Bella let out a whimper, and I could feel her silent tears dropping on my hand as she held it right up to her face.

I pulled her behind me, shielding her.

“Come on, Bella, let’s go get our snack.Lux and yourgrandmothercan work this out when she gets home.”

Just as I was about to walk away, her clawed grip circled the wrist Bella was holding on to.

“You better fucking listen to me, you little?—”

“What?”I countered, puffing up, shoulder back.I wasn’t going to back down.Not when she reminded me so much of my aunt, both emotionally manipulating women who cared for nothing other than themselves.

She didn’t want Bella.She didn’t care for her.Her actions here only proved as much.

"I have the snacks,” Gina said, appearing by our side.“Bella, honey, follow me to the kitchen.”

Bella was reluctant to leave my side, but I looked down at her, breaking my staring contest with her grandmother, and nodded.

“It’s okay,” I whispered.“Go.Lux will be here soon.”

At least I hope so.

As Bella walked away, I could feel the woman’s body tensing with anger.

"Sit down, please,” I said and motioned to the couch she had gotten up from.“Would you like a glass of?—”

“You insolent brat!”she bellowed.“You’re nothing but a nanny.You think you can talk to me like this?Tell me what to do?Keep that child away from me?”

“Lower your voice,” I hissed at her.If she thought she could intimidate me, she had another thing coming.“You may not care about Bella hearing this, but I do.She doesn't need this.Not right now.”

“Like you know what she needs!I’m her grandmother.You’re just a lowly servant.”

I looked her up and down, and it finally dawned on me just how vile this woman was.

Fuck this.I need to get to Bella.

I turned to walk away again, but this time she pulled me back with a jerk.My head whipped to look at her.

“Don’t you fucking touch me?—”

I saw a flash of her diamond bracelet as her hand raised, ready to strike.I didn’t have enough time to protect myself, or even try to, so I braced for impact, flinching.

But the blow never came.

My eyes had closed on instinct, so I peeled them open to see Lux’s strong forearm and her hand gripping her mother’s, stopping her.

Relief crashed through me.I looked up at her, finally feeling like I could breathe.

She was staring at her mother with anger clear on her face.Her eyes were wide, her jaw clenched, her breathing heavy.She looked like it was taking all her strength to stop herself from returning the blow.

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