Page 67 of As the World Falls

“Let’s just go,” Marsha says, looking at my dad. She then snatches the bag from my hand before I attempt to give it to them. “Give me this.”

“Watch it,” I snap as my nails tear through the bag.

“You watch it,” she bites back. “How dare you. We come here for help just for you to embarrass us like this!”

“You’re doing that yourself,” I find myself saying. I usually wasn’t one for confrontation regarding my dad's situation, but who does this broad think she is? Honestly, I was the one helping them all these years.

“It takes strength for us to turn to someone like you for help. You should be more respectful to your parents,” she says.

“You’re not my parent, and you never will be. And what do you mean bysomeone like you? I’m the one with my shit together here.”

“A bitch,” she clarifies.

“Marsha!” My dad finally speaks up.

“You picked a winner, Dad. Nice job,” Tobias adds.

I can’t help but laugh. “At least I don’t look as dead as Nosferatu while being very much alive. Did you want me to add face moisturizer to your to-go bag?”

Her eyes widen in shock just as I feel her hand whip across my face. I feel a stinging slice move across my cheek as she does it, and I realize her ring cut me as soon as I feel the blood trickle down my face.

Then I hear my brother's furious growl.

My eyes snap to his just as he lunges for Marsha. She falls dramatically to the floor, shielding herself from his monstrous body that towered over her.

“Touch my family again, and I will make you disappear,” he snarls in her face.

I quickly glanced at our dad, who was standing there, petrified, as if he didn’t recognize his own son. It had been even longer since my dad had seen Tobias. He looked scared, while I felt proud at this moment.

“Tobias, come back inside,” I say as I look back at him. I hear a disappointed grumble come from him, but then he steps away from her and stands back at my side while she gasps for air as if she were physically attacked.

“How dare you attack a woman like that,” she cries.

Tobias only smiles down at her. “You’re lucky I didn’t put my hands on you. You wouldn’t be speaking if I were immoral enough to hurt a woman.” Then he looks at our dad, his eyes hardening like dark stone. “Don’t ever bring her here again, and if you were a decent father at all, you wouldn’t come back until you get your shit together.”

My heart breaks as I watch our dad nod his head. No apologies or promises. He just helps lift Marsha off the floor, grabs the bag, and walks away.

Tobias swallows hard as he watches them go, and then he slams the door shut. He turns and faces me, and tears finally fill my eyes.

“I don’t even know what to say,” I manage to say.

“Let me then,” he interjects. “I’m so sorry, Lia. You never deserved any of this. I’ve been a shit brother, and I let you carry this family’s burdens on your own, but no more. Things are going to be different from here on out. You’re not alone anymore.”

I sniffle and wipe the tears from my eyes before they fall. “I have to go,” I murmur, grabbing my purse sitting on the kitchen counter. I didn’t know what to say to that. This was all toomuch. I couldn’t handle these feelings. The mixture of hope and disappointment was making me feel sick.

“Lia, you should stay,” Tobias suggests, but I shake my head.

“Feel free to stay or…go. I’ll be back later,” I add before quickly slipping out of the door and ending our conversation.

Twenty minutes later, I ran into the restaurant to meet Lance and his parents. I was already thirty minutes late from the fiasco that was my life.

Lance spots me the second I walk into the restaurant and stands from the table. His smile is bright, but it drops as I walk closer. I notice him leaving the table and starting to come toward me.

“Hey,” he greets me, his hand wrapping around my arm and pulling me back to where I just came from.

“Hey,” I rush out, confused about why he’s dragging me. “I’m sorry I’m late, but – why are you dragging me back outside?” I huff as he pulls me through the doors.

“Lia, what the hell happened?” he asks, his hand flying to my face. I flinch as he does, and he stops, his head rearing back in confusion. “Lia…”

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