Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
I throw the pen across the room, so fucking tired of this shit. Everyone is against me. It’s all fucking hopeless. I have no one. I’m destined to be alone forever and always.
One thing I know for certain, I won’t stop until they’ve all paid. Revenge will be mine, even if it’s the last thing I ever do.
3
SCARLET
I’m surprised Mom doesn’t break the window so she can get to me quicker once we come to a stop in front of the house. Now that I know I’m safe and there isn’t that whole adrenaline rush, fight-or-flight thing going on, I’m completely wiped out. My limbs are heavy enough that I’m sure I won’t be able to get out of the SUV on my own.
I guess I’m not moving fast enough for her. Once she yanks the door open, she pulls me from the vehicle with Dad helping, nudging me in her direction. “Oh, my god!” she sobs before breaking down into unintelligible babble. Now she’s holding me close, shaking, rocking me back and forth like I’m a baby. “Oh, honey. Oh, I’ve been so worried. We’ve all been so scared for you.”
“I’m sorry for all of that. I didn’t want to scare you.” It’s feeling her physical reaction that makes it real. Her trembling, the way she squeezes me until I’m pretty sure she’s going to crack my ribs. Her short, sharp little breaths that stir my hair and warm my skin.
I’m home. Having my mother’s arms around me means I’m home. I didn’t realize until now that Mom has her own particular smell—it’s her Chanel No. 5, the same perfume she’s worn all my life. It clings to her clothes, her hair, and her skin and smelling it takes me back to so many happy memories.
I open my eyes and notice Aspen standing a few feet away. Her eyes shine with tears as she offers me a faint, shaky little smile. “It’s good to see you.” She’s trying to sound upbeat and positive. That’s how she is. But I can see through her. And I feel terrible when I think of her waiting here for any word from me the way I know Mom must’ve been. It’s not like I didn’t think about her at all while I was gone—I knew there were people at home, probably out of their minds with worry. Funny how it was easier to gloss over that when all that mattered was being with Ren. It wasn’t that I didn’t care. It was just that I told myself it was for the best that we were together, the way we were supposed to be.
I shudder a little when I think back on that. I had no idea what I was dealing with. Not the slightest clue what Ren was really going through.
I can’t think about that right now, since I don’t want to, like, break down in front of anybody. As it is, I know damn well I’ll pretty much be locked away after this. Not as punishment, but out of concern.
When Aspen hugs me, once Mom finally lets me go, the presence of a bump between us almost comes as a surprise. It wasn’t so pronounced the last time I saw her. Another reminder of how much time has passed.
And another reminder of what’s growing inside me.
“How are you feeling?” I ask her as we walk arm in arm up to the house. I’ve never been so glad to see it, and to know I’ll be comfortable tonight.
But Ren won’t. I can’t think about that. I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop crying.
“Me?” She blurts out a little laugh and shakes her head. “I am not the person who matters the most right now.”
“I would argue with that,” Quinton pipes up behind me.
“Of course you would.” She gives him a little grin over her shoulder as we step through the door. It’s warm and familiar, and all of a sudden, I want nothing more than a shower. I need to wash everything away and start fresh. Maybe I’ll be able to think a little clearer once I do.
“I mean it, though. How have you been? How are things with the baby?” I ask her.
“Absolutely fine.” She gives me another little squeeze when we reach the foot of the stairs. “Even better now that you’re back.”
“Why don’t you go up, get yourself some rest once you’ve cleaned up a bit?” My father stands surprisingly close to me, but then everybody does. They cluster around me in a tight little circle like they’re afraid I’ll get away if they don’t cage me in. Even more of a reason to keep things to myself, especially the baby. It’s bad enough I doubt I’ll be allowed outside for a while—after everything I put my parents through, I’d better get used to the sight of my bedroom walls.