Page 56 of All for her Forgiveness

"You know that's not true," I reply, although I'm sure it won't make any difference. Pam only hears and understands what she wants. After a few weeks in New York, I realized that, contrary to what my heart desired, our friendship wouldn’t be a "forever" thing, as she promised when she suggested I move in with them. Pam is a tyrant. She's not as bad as Aunt Riny, but I'm not sure if over time she won't become just like her.

I leave the house every day to draw, and I've even managed to sell some of my work. I'm trying to save money to leave their house, so I dodge every time Mrs. Vina tries to talk about the future.

I've endured enough growing up. I lived in a hell of Aunt Riny's making, and I won't repeat the process just to have a roof over my head. No amount of money or comfort in the world is worth my peace of mind.

"I thought you'd be more fun when I invited you to live with us."

I don't know if she does it on purpose, but it's not the first time Pam has implied that inviting me to live in her house was a mistake and has made it clear she regrets it. Every time I hear that, though, I feel a crack in my heart. Rejection has accompanied me my whole life, and until now, I told myself it was okay, that I couldn't force people to like me.

However, based on the almost instant friendship between us, I believed I had finally found my place and would have a new family. Worse than growing up with nobody loving us is living the illusion of love, having hope, only to be disappointed again.

"I'm not fun because I don't want to be with a billionaire drug addict? If Ryan is so great, why don't you date him yourself?"

"Who says I haven't tried already?" She smiles mischievously. "I'm not waiting for . . .”

"For whom?"

"Nobody. What I'm trying to say is I'm not a nun. Ryan is very hot, and I'm sure you could have fun together."

"I'm not looking for fun," I say, annoyed. We've only been at the party for half an hour, and I already want to leave.

I know Hades is here, although I can't see him at the moment. When I arrived with Pam, he was the first person I saw, but she made a not-so-subtle move to keep me from greeting him, pushing Ryan onto me.

The jerk grabbed me by the waist and led me away to the dance floor. He didn't give me a choice but to follow him or make a scene, and since I didn't want to ruin Pam's birthday night, I told myself that dancing one song with the man wouldn't kill me.

Well, now I'm not so sure. Being near him has almost killed me with anger. Besides the fact that he thought he could touch me without permission—he tried to grab my butt during the dance—he invited me to use cocaine in the bathroom and make our night "happier."

"Yeah, I noticed," she replies. "Actually, I don't even know why you came."

That's the last straw.

"You know, I was just thinking the same thing."

I see the surprise on her face at my reaction. So far, I've endured her tantrums in silence, but birthday or not, I won't allow her to treat me like a servant, always ready to smile and fulfill her wishes just because I have the "privilege" of living in the house the Kostanidis family supports.

"Where are you going?"

"I need some alone time, Pam. If you want fun so badly, find it on your own."

Hades

Past

"At least try to disguise your fixation on the girl, Hades."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You do know. I'm referring to your ward’s fake 'cousin.' You've been eyeing Juliet since she entered the club."

A month and a half.

It’s quite a record, considering I've been obsessed with seeing Kennedy again and haven't allowed myself to go there.

Today, however, there was nothing I could do to avoid seeing her again. It's Pam's eighteenth birthday, and even though I won't stay long, I had to at least drop by with Ares.

It takes me about ten minutes to realize it was a mistake because the moment I saw Kennedy entering, I couldn't take my eyes off her.

I had to use all my self-control when some jerk took her to the dance floor.

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