Page 156 of Mexico Can Choke On It
“Enough. You’re embarrassing yourself,” he says in that big brother voice.
“Bro, you built your whole life from nothing—and now you’re gambling it all on someone you didn’t even know last Christmas? Are you out of your goddamn mind?”
Fiona gasps. “Petra, I understand it’s difficult for someone like you. But wealthy families handle these matters with more…nuance.”
“Someone like me? You mean the daughter of a woman who got stripped of everything by a man with a trust fund and a wandering dick?”
Gavin’s face darkens. “I said enough. This outburst is unacceptable. Apologize.”
“What’s unacceptable is allowing my brother to make the same stupid mistake that destroyed our family!”
The air crackles with tension. Bryce decides to enter the blast zone.
“Petra’s studying to become a lawyer,” he says. “I’m sure she understands prenups and asset protection better than—”
I spin on him so fast he flinches.
“Don’t you fucking dare! You don’t get to play knight in shining armor now, you lying piece of shit!”
He looks like I slapped him.Good.
“Pip, please…” His voice drops to a low whisper. “Don’t do this. You’re—”
“No. You can’t stand up for me after screwing me over.”
My brother’s attention jumps between us. “Hold on. Lawyer? Petra, what the hell is he talking about?”
Fiona releases a taunting laugh. “Oh my gosh, how priceless! The little dropout actually thinks she has what it takes for law school?Petra, angel, the legal field demands just a smidge more than a rebellious attitude and whatever tragic situation is happening with your makeup.”
I see red. My fists clench. My nails bite into my skin.
She takes a step toward me. “I thought we were past this, Petra. That you’d evolved beyond these destructive outbursts, but apparently you’re still the same impulsive, self-centered—”
“Fi,” Gavin snaps. “Stop.”
“No,” I say, trembling with rage. “Let her talk. Let her say what she really thinks. Because at least when she’s being a bitch, she’s not pretending.”
Gavin steps between us. “You need to leave, Petra. Go cool off.”
“Quit pretending to be my father! You’ve never asked whatIwant. You just see a mess to clean up.”
My voice gets stronger, more defiant with every word.
“I’m done being your perpetual disappointment. I don’t want your money, your charity, or your pity for how I live my life. I pity all of you. Living in this fake-ass world wherelovecomes with a price tag and no one takes a shit unless it’s tax-deductible.”
“Out. Now, Petra.” Gavin’s voice has the finality of a judge’s gavel. “I’ve had it with you wrecking everything, when I’m trying to take care of this family.”
“Family? That’s fucking hilarious, Gavin. You tradedfamilya long time ago so you could join these billionaire assholes.”
Nobody stops me when I turn on my heel.I’m so done with these rich pricks. They think their money can buy everything, but it will never buy me.
I walk away. Head high. And I don’t fucking look back.
***
Hereinthedrawingroom, the chandeliers shine overhead like interrogation lights, cold and unblinking. This is where it all began: me, out of my depth before I even knew it. Now it feels like a crime scene. The only thing missing is a chalk line around my heart.
I’m standing in my real clothes—ripped jeans, battered leather jacket, my combat boots still caked in beach sand—clutching the handle of my sad little taped-up suitcase like it’s the last honest thing left in this palace of lies.
