Page 78 of Love Me Not

“I took care of you and that brat of a brother of yours for years!It’s the least I deserve.”

Lux’s words rang in my head.

I’m telling you, you deserve more.It doesn’t matter where that money came from.You shouldn’t feel ashamed.No one should make you feel that way.You’re too important and too good for it.

She was right.No one had the right to make me feel bad about myself.Least of all, my aunt.

I had taken this shit from her my whole life.Not anymore.Maybe it was watching Lux stand up to her own mother that gave me the boost of confidence.Or maybe it was Bella’s panic attack, a visible representation of what I often felt on the inside.

But it didn’t have to continue.That much I was starting to figure out.

I turned around, glaring at my aunt.

“Deserve?You don’t deserve anything from me or from my brother.You were a shit aunt to me.I lost my parents, I needed you, and you pushed me out!”

“You little whore!You’re an embarrassment to this family!Your parents would be ashamed of you.And don’t act like I never gave you anything?—”

“You didn’t!And you don’t get to judge me, especially when you’re the one begging me for myquestionablemoney.”

“I’m not begging!”she said with a huff.“I’m asking for what I’m owed!”

I scoffed.“You ever just sit and wonder why you’re alone, Kathy?”

“Why you little?—”

“It’s because you’re fucking rotten,” I hissed.“All the way down to your soul.And you know what?I’m glad you pushed me out because Inevercould have dealt with this bullshit.”I took a deep breath and centered myself.“I’m done here.”

Lucas looked at me, his face hardening.He would have to deal with the fallout.I didn’t want to leave him here like this.I felt bad.

But I also couldn’t just take this lying down, especially after what he’d said.Even if I loved him.

“My offer still stands for you, Lucas,” I said, my voice softer.“If you don’t want it, that’s fine.But I’ll only give you one more week to decide.”

He didn’t answer me as I turned on my heel and walked back out into the hallway.Lux and Bella were there, waiting for me, looking at me with pitying expressions.

They probably heard the fight.

I opened my mouth, ready to greet them, but the words wouldn’t come out.The weight of what had just happened was heavy.

My eyes stung, and I looked to the side, trying to hide my tears from Bella.

She didn’t need to see this.She already had so much she had to deal with.She didn’t need her nanny having a mental breakdown on her.

What I didn’t expect was for them to clock it right away and for Bella to come rushing to me, her arms wrapping around me.

I gritted my teeth, but it did nothing to stop the tears from filling my eyes.I was usually so good at hiding my emotions, but seeing her beautiful wide eyes looking at me with such concern had my guard crashing down.

“I want ice cream,” she said, taking my hand and tugging me along with her toward the entrance.“Lux, we’re going to Thirty-One!”

I couldn’t bring myself to laugh at what she was calling Baskin-Robbins or her obvious attempt at cheering me up.Instead, I let Lux take my other hand and quietly followed them to let myself be taken care of.

* * *

“Can you help me braid my hair?”

I turned to the small voice that carried across the living room, putting down the craft supplies I was cleaning up.

Bella was peeking behind the wall of the hallway, already in her matching pink princess pajamas.Her hair was wet, indicating that she had just showered.

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