Page 49 of Changing Rules

“That’s actually very entertaining,” Samantha replies. She meets my gaze, her expression full of contempt.

There’s nothing she could say to change my mind about her. She put Bella through so much shit for no good reason.

Samantha looks a lot like her daughter, but deep down? This woman is rotten.

“Entertaining?” Bella asks. She sets her elbows on the table and laces her fingers. “I was all alone whether you were here or not. Lonely. Forgotten. Useless. You only came around when you needed an outlet for your anger; then I was your favorite toy. You loved doling out punishment when you were in need of an ego boost. You never cared if I was hurt or sad.”

Bella straightens and shakes her head, like she’s shaking away the urge to tear up. “Do you remember the day I cameto your room and told you my tummy hurt? You accused me of faking it for attention. Even as I lay on the floor, howling in pain.”

“You lied all the time. Did you really expect me to believe you?” Samantha hisses, slamming both of her palms on the table.

“Ineverlied to you,” Bella says, her chest rising and falling slowly. “I just wanted you to love me.”

“You got what you wanted eventually. Kevin took you to the hospital. He stayed with you all night and the next day.”

Bella scoffs. “You act like that was a luxury. I had to have my appendix removed.”

“And he was by your side the whole time. What else should I have done? I couldn’t miss work. My husband took my place, and he took care of you.”

“Took care of her?” I fume, fury coursing through me. “Took care?—”

Bella shakes her head slightly. “Don’t.”

My gut drops. Why the hell do I need to stay silent?

“And here you are, still an attention seeker all these years later.” Samantha eyes me, then scowls at her daughter, like she knows exactly what I was going to say.

Cordelia leans forward, eyeing me as well. “Is there something I need to know?”

“No.” Bella pulls her shoulders back. “But I do have a question.”

“Go ahead, sweetheart.” Her grandmother gives her an encouraging smile.

“Why this farce?” she asks, setting her jaw hard.

Pure pride fills my chest. She’s standing her ground and asking the exact question that has been plaguing me. What’s the point of this big show?

“What do you mean?” Cordelia blinks, her mouth collapsing into a frown.

“You said you found my diary two months ago. You read it. You discovered what my mother did to me.” She licks her lips. “Why did you needmehere? We could’ve met anywhere, literally. I could’ve come visit you in Montgomery. Instead, you chose to make a big production of it. Why?”

“I wanted answers, and I wanted you to have them too. And I hoped Sam would have enough dignity to admit to what she put you through and take accountability.” Cordelia lowers her head a fraction. “I was mistaken.”

“My mother doesn’t care about anyone but herself,” Bella says. “Not even Kevin. He’s nothing but an accessory to her.” She keeps her posture straight as she continues. “Mother only loves herself, and she’ll hate me even more after this dinner. Even though she’s the queen of putting others down, she hates when people make her uncomfortable.”

It takes all my strength to fight the urge to scoop her up and press her into my chest. Something inside her has changed. I can’t pinpoint why or how, but she found the confidence to face her mother and speak her mind. She’s being her real self.

“So sorry for the delay.” A loud voice cuts through the tense moment, then a large man enters the room.

Instantly, my hackles rise. This is the fucker who almost succeeded in destroying Bella’s soul. He’s fifty, she said, but he looks a good decade younger. He’s ripped, like he spends all his free time at the gym, and his shirt is a size too small, barely containing his biceps and showing off each ridge of his abdomen. Kevin looks better than my own father, and it honestly sends my thoughts into disarray. He’s a rapist who managed to fool the world with his image.

This is so fucked up.

“Your timing is perfect.” Samantha stands and strolls toward her husband. “Dinner is ready. Help me in the kitchen, will you?”

She grabs his hand and drags him out of the room.

He follows, eyes wide with surprise. I can’t blame him, though the way his attention lingers on Bella makes me instantly furious. He better be careful, because my knuckles are still itching from my run-in with Miller.

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