oe

oice had been so calm, so devoid of emotion, simply stating that he would pass th

lose myself in my work. A child's birthday cake,

my personal phone rang. The name on the screen made

reath before an

rough the receiver. "What did you do to Mrs. Kensington? She called me, scr

lieved her?" I said coldly. "Wi

! All I know is that the Kensingtons are furious b

my knuckles turned white. "I

atening. "Have you forgotten about your mother's medical

d my chest. My moth

defeated. "I'll

badly to continue working. The delicate top of

me. The moment I walked in, I was met with the hostile stares of my father, my stepmo

any sneered. She had always envied my contr

ed to my father. "I'm

he front page featured a photo of Eleanor shouting outside my apartment,

his," Gary

ere's nothing to explain. She slandered me. I've already signed t

y stepmother Brenda shrieked. "Your sister's tuition, the mortgage o

ed over me. "That's my money. I'll pay for my mother's me

his feet, his hand

I'll go straight to the Kensingtons and tell them their daughter-in-law is b

n midair. Slowly

ce dripping with false sweetness. "All you have to do is apologize

u want him so badly, why

she blurted out, then

ibunal ended with them cornering me. They demand

ant faces and spoke, my voice fla

er of triumph

I said, "but o

on has to come