Page 211 of Breaking Point
BELLA
I never thought I’d miss a confessional as much as I do
I wish you could text me back, Mom
“Bella, please.”
Even his whiny voice makes anger flare in my veins.
“No!” I snap. “You don’t deserve to fucking be here!”
He holds out his hands in innocence, and all it does is rile me up further. I don’t let go of Grayson’s hand as I take a step forward and spit, “I hope you fuckingrot in hellfor what you did.”
“It’s my biggest regret. I regretted it the moment?—”
A scream rips from me. “You could have come back!”
“The damage was already done, Bella?—”
“You’re a fucking coward.”
He hangs his head as if in shame.
“I still don’t even hear an apology from you.” I bark out a laugh, but it’s manic if anything. “You’re the most pathetic person I’ve ever met, and I’m ashamed to say you’re my father.”
“I understand why you’re angry. But Bella, the doctors?—”
I tear off, getting right in his face until he’s forced to move back. “I knowexactlywhat the doctors said. You want to knowwhy? Because when you left, someone had to step up and that for sure as shit wasn’t going to be your coward ass, so it wasme, Dad.” My voice breaks. “It was me that was there for every doctor appointment and hospital visit. It was me holding her hair back while she vomited from chemotherapy. It was me holding her as she wept in the house you abandoned her in. It was allme!”
My chest is heaving, rising and falling wildly. I’ve never felt such malice toward another human, but when I look at him all I see is the pain and destruction he left in his wake. As he took the coward’s way out and let his daughter take care of everything.
My voice cracks as I whisper, “I hate you for what you did and I’ll never look at you the same.”
He wrings his hands, his dark hair, peppered with gray, fluttering in the wind. “You’re right, I was scared of what would happen but I’m back now and?—”
“That’s enough.”
Grayson cuts him off, his voice cold as ice as he steps forward—between me and the man who was my father.
He raises his eyes to Grayson and I’m surprised to see a flash of anger there. “I’m having a private conversation with my daughter?—”
“No, you’re not. This is done. If you wish to spew bullshit write a note and mail it.”
His eyes widen…in recognition.
Grayson must see it too because his lip curls back. “Don’t even think about going there.”
Joseph’s head rears back. “Just let me speak to my daughter then.”
“I said no. You’ve done enough damage and I’m not going to let you run your mouth and do more.”
The iciness in his tone, the defensiveness—it makes my heart leap with a fierce wave of confidence. I feel a small hand at my back, and I don’t have to turn to know it’s Layla also showing support in the only way she can in this fucked-up situation.
A muscle ticks in his jaw. “Fine then. At least let me discuss the will and the house?—”
Grayson and I rear back in unison, both of us shocked at the words that just came out of his mouth.
“What the fuck did you just say?” Grayson all but growls.
