Page 112 of Ruthless God

She doesn’t know anything that happened between my father and me, so I tell her. I tell her everything about what Carter told me, and that I have to find Revi.

“My poor baby,” my mother says, her eyes bloodshot from crying. “I’m so sorry, Snow. I failed you and Bailey.”

“You did the best you could w—”

“I chose Revi over you, and I shouldn’t have. He blamed you for something that he staged because he’s filled with control and power. I should have protected you two. I should have left him when I had the chance, but instead I allowed your father to treat you and Bailey like shit because I didn’t want to be a single mother.”

I don’t respond because I don’t know what to say to that. I always felt like she always took his side, and I understand that she was staying to survive. My mother gets up and holds out her arms, and I embrace her. She wraps her tiny arms around me, squeezing tight.

I sit on a barstool, and she sits back down, next to me.

“So, how is marriage with Lyrical?”

“She wants a divorce but I’m not giving it to her. I don’t want to lose her. She feels as if I put her second and she thinks that I won’t change for her. She thinks I chose my revenge over her.”

Mom smiles sadly at me. “I understand where she is coming from. Your father was always putting me second. When he was out for blood, nothing stood in his way. Stop choosing revenge over her. Choose her over the Billionaire Club. I know your father taught you to serve the club, but that is what drove awedge in our marriage. It drove him to cheat.” She runs her fingers through my hair. “I’m sorry.”

I watch her in bewilderment, but she goes on.

“I’m sorry for choosing your father over you and taking his side. I’m sorry for blaming you for your sister’s death—the first time. I’m so sorry, my sweet boy. I’m sorry that I was a neglectful mother and I’m sorry that I allowed your father to destroy our lives. That’s why I had to move to San Francisco. I couldn’t take the guilt. I had no idea that your father did what he did. Do you forgive me, son?”

“I do. You don’t have to continue to say you’re sorry.”

“I want you to hear it.”

I nod. I love my mother, and I already lost my sister a second time; I don’t want to lose her too.

I need to make up for my behavior toward Lyrical. I should have believed her in the first place when she said the car accident was staged, but I couldn’t see past my rage. Instead of choosing love, I chose my rage—my revenge over her—but not anymore. My revenge got us in this predicament. I’m going to change by picking her. Going forward, I will always pick her no matter what. She deserves an apology from me again, I owe her that much. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life making it up to her.

Lyrical limps into the kitchen, and my mother gets up from the barstool and hugs her, cupping her face. Mom drops a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you for loving my kids.”

She turns on the ball of her heel and says, “I’ll be in the guest room.”

Lyrical stares at me for what seems like forever.

“If you need anything, ask me. Don’t be walking on your injured leg, you could tear your stitches.”

“I’m fine, Snow.”

“I need to talk to you,” I tell her, pulling out a barstool and helping her sit on it. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired.”

“What kind of revenge do you want me to exact on my father?” I ask, resting my elbows on the breakfast nook.

She gives me a puzzled look. “Come again?”

“I want your help getting revenge on my father. So, what are your ideas of how you want me to kill him?”

“You want to include me in your plan for revenge against your father?” she asks, skeptical.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I tuck a strand behind her ear, and her cheeks turn a pale pink. “Because I’m not the only one who lost Bailey, you lost her too. For a while, I didn’t take any consideration of how you felt about her death. This revenge isn’t just mine, it’s yours too. We’re a team, Lyrics.”

Her eyes water, and she wraps her arms around my shoulders. “Really?”

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