Page 149 of The Cinderella Arrangement

“Isn’t he so nice?” Mom’s face was brighter than the sun. “Natalie doesn’t get a lot of compliments about her work.”

“Oh, shut up.”

The sounds of knives and forks clattering against the plates stopped as my parents’ angry faces turned toward me. My hot eyes stared back. Will beamed at me.

“Natalie! How dare you?”

“Shut up!” I exploded, shoving the plate away from me. “Both of you make me sick the way you fawn over him.”

I couldn’t stand hearing them talk about how he was so much better than me, but listening to Will try to lift me up was even worse.

Dad turned to William in a desperate attempt to salvage Thanksgiving dinner. “She doesn’t mean that.”

He gave him a dry laugh. “Oh, I think she does.”

I stood up and Will bolted upright. My parents’ anguished faces stared back at me. There were so many things I wanted to say to them. “All you do is make me feel bad about myself. I don’t need you anymore.”

Dad’s face went beet-red and Mom looked like she was on the verge of tears.

“I don’t understand why you’re so hateful,” Mom choked.

“I’m not the hateful one, Mom. You are.” I grabbed my purse, and they didn’t stop me as I slid open the kitchen door.

I’m done.

“Good Lord,” Will ejaculated when itslammed shut. “I’m surprised you lasted that long without flipping out. What a disaster.”

“Thanks for coming,” I said in a sarcastic voice as he jogged next to me. “It was really great of you.” I quickened my pace, eager to get away from him.

“Natalie, wait! We need to talk.”

“About what?” I wanted to drive home and collapse in bed without anyone bothering me. I didn’t want to hear his voice because I was so close to exploding.

“What do you mean, ‘about what’? Dammit, Natalie!”

He seized my shoulders and turned me around so I could look at his perfect face and suit, his super expensive car behind him.

“You shouldn’t have come,” I said, lip quivering.

“I’m sorry! I tried to call you—Natalie?”

His mouth gaped as I suddenly burst into tears. “H—how did you do it?” I demanded through my sobs.

“Do what?”

“They love you! They love you and they hate me!” I shoved his chest. “They only saw you for five seconds. I’m their daughter and they couldn't care less about me.”

I stood there crying and watched him feel bad for something he couldn’t control.

“They don’t—they don’t hate you. It’s like I said before. You’ll never be able to please them.”

His heart broke for me, but I searched his face and tried to find some reason that this was his fault.

They’ll never love me. It has nothing to do with him.

“Natalie, it’s their problem if they can’t see what a wonderful person you are. You’re a talented artist and what’s more, you’ve repaired my family. I don’t know how the fuck you did it, but Luke’s in Chicago with my dad,eating dinner.

“There's no excuse for my behavior, but I was fucked up at the time. I’m a fucking idiot, and I sabotaged the best thing in my life. You weren’t answering my calls. I thought you didn’t want to see me again.Can’t blame you.”

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