L

lm. I'd grown up in this building, hiding behind boulders

a daily basis were the yelling of my name after Linda had done something wrong and faulted me for it. Up until this moment wh

hen we finally entered the building, slipping past the silver gates that had

with me was the best option, but there was nowhere else I'd rather she be. This

s wide as I remember, a vast open field that spread all the way to the end, with several cars li

very worker around calculated our movements. Their faces b

nally said, stepping away from the door and usheri

family registry. "Thank you." I proceeded d

?" her voice breezed down t

o be opened, and as I reached it, I took a brief pause, taking deep br

ling airpods. "When we get in there, love. I want you to listen to your favor

ldn't that be rude?" I smiled. It was beautiful

weetie." I stroked Velma's hai

the door opened, and heads snapped in my direction. My

epmother, my step-sister- the bigge

Car

of relief wash over me as it occurred I

a relieved tone as he got to his fee

as she eyed me. As expected, there's so much hate behind that gaze. She looked frailer- now the v

e her pass as my aunt. She was visibly disturbed, shaken, so much so the seat couldn't contain her. Linda was

htly away from them. "I can't say I'm surprised nothing changed, but there's a kid here. You

ther's raging glare couldn't match mine. I'd shoot daggers

bark orders, Alma?!" her voice lacked the energy it used

r. All that barking now has your lips shifted in the wrong

er eyes were red and hollow. Dark circles spread under her eye bags like it was character des

rom?" I scoffed. "If it is, then get a note, Linda

impud

I turned to Mr. Page, the innocent and evidently confused lawyer who had entangled himself in this. "I tho

lowed by Linda's loud voice. "We are not starting anything until y

ry time I raised my head to look at her, I was taken back to the pa

hit wasn't fast enough. I shoved her off me and rose from my c

y fist came in hard contact with her face, and it felt so good!

ther side, but she turned to me, and I slapp

ther yelled, but didn't move an inch. I appre

d for the last hit when a voice yelle

That voice. That hell of a voice. No. No. I snapped my head

nd inflicted upon him as much pain as he'd caused me. I inhaled d

you anymore! You

o stagger further against the wall. Nothing could stop that one. "And that's fo

pounding against my rib cage as though it tried to tear its way out. But I didn't look back, eve

s I had done to her. They both deserved every bad thing coming their way. I g

me but was stopped by her lovely husband. "Did you see what she did? Babe

, Linda. B

disrupting my balance, but I knew I wouldn't crack. I couldn't afford to. I eyed him from the corner

too, and that was when I finally saw it. Her wheelchair. That must've been

e I took a look at him, but his gaze remained unwavering, further enhancing my discomfort. "I want to su

ed how he looked at me like he was searching for something, and I espec

mentioned that this was a family me

to, his attention drifted

feared I'd hit his head with a bottle if ever he called me again. "I'm r

e hell. It felt like scraping open an unhealed wound and dressing it wi

e didn't exist. "Mr. Page, please

my stepmother added. "Leave

peak must also be included in your list of prob

ht back at him, letting myself go into those blue eyes and find

Carl wouldn't be one to regret anything.

want to sue Alma on

that without evidence

idence? You

e defamatory comments from you to Miss Alma.

Can you leash your pet?" I asked my stepmother, and I stood up. "I can't stay

looking up at me so earnestly that disgus

bed the glass of water on the table before me

made almost everyone jolt. All except Carl, who was s

those filthy lips, your blood will