Page 90 of Snitches and Serpents

But now, his face is red with anger and indignation.

Edging back from the window, I make sure to position myself where I can still see them, just barely, while they can’t see me. The window has been cracked open a little, probably to let some fresh air into the no doubt stifling hot south-facing room, and that is what allows me to overhear what they’re saying.

“Do you have any idea the kind of gossip I’ve had to suppress back home because of you?” Adam demands. “Everyone is whispering that Adam Summers only pretends to run a tight ship while he can’t even keep his daughter in line. Do you have any idea the kind of damage this has done to my reputation?”

Elle keeps her eyes on the floor. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not good enough!” His chest heaves with angry breaths. “I have spent nineteen years impressing upon you the importance of always maintaining a perfect image. That everything you do is constantly being monitored and judged, and that you must never be anything less than perfect in every way.” He slashes a hand through the air. “But the moment you’re out of my sight, you disobey everything I have taught you.”

Shock slams into me.

And for a moment, I can only stare at Elle with wide eyes.

That is how she was raised?

“You were supposed to go to Bercester U and follow in my and your mother’s footsteps,” Mr. Summers continues. “To show everyone that you are our legacy. That you are worthy of continuing our work. And instead, all you’ve done is to show us what a disappointment and an utter failure you are.”

I jerk back at the harsh words. But Elle doesn’t even flinch, as if it’s not the first time that he has said something like this. I stare at her, my mouth open.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” she says, her voice soft. “I promise that I will do better.”

An intense aching pulses through my heart.

“That’s what you said last time,” he retorts, his voice hard.

“I know. But I really will do better from now on. I’ve just had some… issues to deal with.”

“You’re a Summers. You don’t get the luxury of having issues. Your academic, social, and athletic performance should always be exceptional regardless of what issues you may or may not be dealing with.”

“I know.”

“Do you? You keep saying that and yet you continue to be a worthless disappointment.” He raises a warning finger in the air. “But I swear to you now, Elle, this is your last chance. If you keep this up, we will disown you.”

She snaps her head up and stares at him with wide eyes. Her chest starts rising and falling rapidly. Tears spill down her cheeks.

“Calm yourself,” Adam orders. “Crying will do you no good.”

But her breathing keeps coming out in fits and starts. Raising a hand, she grabs the collar of her shirt and pulls it forward, as if to give herself more room to breathe.

I recognize the signs. She’s having a panic attack.

My gaze darts to her father, but he does nothing to help her. In fact, he does the exact opposite. He stands there in front of her and stares down at her as if he is even more disappointed in her for having a panic attack.

The sudden overwhelming urge to beat him within an inch of his worthless fucking life flashes through me with such force that I have to brace myself on the wall to stop myself from doing just that.

“I said, stop crying,” he snaps.

Elle sucks in desperate breaths while panic flashes in her tear-filled eyes.

“Pull yourself together,” Adam continues. “And sort out this mess that you have made. We expect excellence in all things, and we will have it.”

Pain stabs through my chest like a hot knife.

Fuck, I can’t watch this. I can’t listen to any more of this.

That storm of anger and frustration and disbelief that was swirling inside me when I stalked over here has now been replaced by pain and confusion and regret.

Staggering away from the building, I shake my head.

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