Page 2 of Dare To Break

I close my eyes and count slowly to ten in my head. Elena has always been rash and impulsive, but she’s never been stupid before. A string of rich boyfriends paying her way is one thing, but marrying a man she barely knows? That’s a new low.

Opening my eyes, I shake my head. “This is crazy even for you, Elena.”

My mother’s painted red lips twist. “Get off your high horse. The man has money, and he wants to take care of us. What’s wrong with that? You should count your blessings. We won’t have to worry about anything again.”

“Do you love him?”

“Love?” She says the word as though it’s something unpleasant. “What does that have to do with anything? I keep him happy in bed, and that’s all that matters.”

Bile rises in my throat, and I force myself to turn away from her. This is all going to end in a mess. The second dear old Elliot realizes what a brat my mother is, he’ll demand a divorce. I grab the closest plastic tub, open the lid, and pile the warm cookies inside it.

“Are you sulking? Is this because you didn’t come to the wedding?”

“I refuse to be part of this insanity.”

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

I jam the lid on the full tub, and snap it shut. “I need to focus on getting ready for school. I don’t have time for the next episode of your life.”

She rests her hip against the counter beside me, and eyes the flour sprinkled over the surface. “About that.” Her fingers tap the countertop. “I have some good news. We’re moving into Elliot’s house in the Hamptons.”

My attention snaps to her face, and the laugh I was about to give dies on my lips. Within the span of ten minutes, my mother has ripped my comfortable little world apart. I feel like a tightrope walker without a safety net waiting to catch me.

“That’s not fair.” My voice trembles. “My whole life is here.”

“Not anymore. Elliot has pulled some strings,” She watches me closely. It makes me wonder how much of the emotion I’m feeling is betrayed on my face. “He got you a place in Churchill Bradley Academy.”

“But all my friends—”

“You’ll make new friends.” She gives a dismissive wave of one hand. “The academy has a lot more to offer than the second-rate school you’ve been going to. It only takes students who can afford the expensive fees.”

“You mean rich kids,” I reply hollowly. The resentment I carry toward her is clawing at me, desperate to be released. She doesn’t give a fuck that she’s screwing up my life.

“It’s a boarding school, so you’ll get to immerse yourself in all the academia you love so much.” Her voice is calm. Too calm. “I’ve already signed you up, Bella. Elliot has paid the fees for the year. Eli is a student there. You should be excited about a fresh start.”

My brows knit together at the name Elliot mentioned earlier, but I hadn’t paid much attention to it. “Eli?”

“His son.”

I’m not sure if I want to laugh or cry at the news. “Wait. He’s got a kid?”

She crosses her arms and pushes away from the counter. “He’s around the same age as you.”

I track her movements, as she browses through the stack of letters on the kitchen table.

“Jesus,” I mutter. “Can this get any worse?”

“You’ve always wanted a sibling.”

I snort. “You have to be joking, right?”

Anger tightens her features. “You are not going to ruin this for me. Be nice to your new stepbrother. That’s all I’m asking.”

I want to scream. It’s always about her wants and needs. My eyes sting, and I clench my teeth. It’s wrong to hate her, but I do. I can feel it chipping away like a pick against the dam, leaving chinks in it bit by bit, and I’m terrified at what might happen when it finally breaks. I curl my fingers into my palms, battling against the urge to claw out her eyes.

“Elena?” Elliot’s voice interrupts us.

She plasters a happy smile on her face, and sashays across to the doorway. “We’re still in the kitchen, darling.”

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