Page 140 of Their Greatest Strength

She shakes her head, scoffing loudly. “Do you think I’m stupid? Your husband?—”

“He’s not really my husband!” I scream, angrily swiping at my face, ashamed of the tears. “Jamie’s not my husband, you evil bitch. Now, leave me alone. Leave my entire family alone.”

“Don’t tell me this was all a fucking joke, Blakely. What have you gotten yourself into?” she hisses, stomping toward me and grabbing my shoulder, shaking it hard.

“I don’t have the money to give you.”

“Yes. You do. I saw the wedding photos. You signed the certificate. You’re married to that man, and you’re going to give me what I need.”

“You’re not listening to me! It’s not our money. It’s his. Everything is his. I don’t own any of it!”

She shakes me harder, like maybe I’ll give her what she wants if she rattles me around a little bit more.

“Let me make this even clearer for you. Either you give me the money I need, or I’ll make sure everyone knows that you’re not Jamieson Bateman’s wife. Because what? This was for publicity? You were so desperate to feel wanted that you sold yourself to a man? We are not that different, sweetie,” she hisses. “And unless you want the entire world to know that, then you will do as I say!”

I choke on a sob before stumbling back from her. “You have no idea what you’re asking for.”

“Yes, I do. I know too well.”

“Why did you even have children? You could have made it impossible to have Nate.”

“Your father was adamant about having a big family.”

My hands and knees shake. Any minute now, I’m going to collapse. And Jamie can’t see me like this. Neither can Nate.

“Dad would have hated you. He’s rolling in his grave right now,” I whisper.

She swallows, features tightening. “He lost his right to feel one way or another when he left us.”

“At least he got away from you.”

The sound of footsteps approaches us, and I whip my head toward the guy heading our way. Jake, the security guard from earlier, glances between me and my mother, a silent question in his eyes.

Despite how weak it makes me, I nod, taking the opportunity to leave. I’m grateful for the saving. I don’t know if I’d have been able to extract myself before Jamie got here.

“This is private property. You need to leave before I call the police.”

She guffaws. “Tomorrow, Blakely. You have until tomorrow.”

I don’t have the energy to turn to look at her as she speaks. A day isn’t enough for me to find enough money for her. Not even with my job now.

One step after the other, I go back to the stadium, needing tocollect myself before going home. I’m almost there when the guard catches up to me.

“Should I put her on the list?” he asks, hanging back a bit.

“What list?”

“If she shows up here again, we’ll notify the authorities.”

“Don’t bother. It’s fine,” I mutter.

“Do you want me to stay out here and wait for Jamie?” he asks.

“You’ve already gone above and beyond your job description. I appreciate you stepping in, but I can take care of myself.”

“You’re a member of the Pythons family,” he argues.

“So, you didn’t hear what we were screaming about, then?”

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