Page 12 of Finding Forgiveness
I end the call and slide the phone into my pocket, giving myself a moment before standing. I’m grateful that Jacinta and I seem to be okay now; I hated the fact that she wasn’t talking to me. At least something positive has come out of this mess.
My hands are shoved in my pockets as I stroll back down the corridor, and I notice there are two nurses now standing behind the desk, but it’s their large eyes that draw my attention. They’re both looking towards Cassandra’s room. My gaze snaps in that direction, and that’s when I see the lady who just passed me leaning over the bed.
My pace quickens as I push through the door and enter. I come to an abrupt stop when I hear what she’s saying.
“Wake up, you selfish little bitch,” the woman says, roughly grasping Cassandra’s shoulder and giving it a firm shake. “Or maybe it’s better for everyone if you don’t. It would certainly make my life a lot easier. Was this little stunt of yours a ploy to get your way? If it was, it’s not going to work. I’m over your attention-seeking dramatics. I’ve reached my absolute limit with you. You had the audacity to accuse me of ruining your life … think of where you’d be now if it wasn’t for me. I saved you from making the biggest mistake of your life, and this is how you thank me. I honestly regret the day you were born, you’ve been a thorn in my side for years. I never wanted you … I would’ve aborted you, but your father wanted a child so desperately. Someone to carry on the family name, what a joke you turned out to be. All you do is bring shame to his good name and this family.”
“Hey,” I snap, taking a step towards the bed. My eyes briefly dart to Cassie and I’m relieved to see her eyes are still closed. She’s been through enough and the last thing she needs is to hear that kind of venom spewed in her direction.
Who in the fuck does this woman think she is?
She straightens and turns to face me. The moment her eyes meet mine, they narrow. “You,” she scoffs. “Get out.”
“I think it’s you who needs to leave. How dare you speak to her like that.”
I’ve never met Cassandra’s mother before, but if her words weren’t enough to tell me who she was, I can see the family resemblance up close. They have the same eyes, full lips, and that perfectly straight nose. Her beauty pales in comparison to her daughter’s though. Her resting bitch face is not a good look on her.
“Do you have any idea who I am?”
My reply is out before I even realise what I’m saying. “I’m no gynaecologist, but I’m guessing you’re a cunt.”
She gasps at my crude assumption, and although I’m not a fan of that word, after what I just witnessed, it’s fitting.
It takes a moment for her to regain her composure, but after pulling back her shoulders, she closes the remaining distance between us. “I know exactly who you are, Connor Maloney and I wouldn’t get too smug if I was you. I’m well aware of your past with myunderageddaughter.” She raises one of her arms as she speaks, and for a split second, I think she’s going to hit me, but instead, she clicks her fingers in my face. “I could destroy you in an instant.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” I counter. I may be three years older than her, but Cassie was over the age of consent before anything happened between us.
“You should be,” she growls before turning and storming from the room.
I watch her leave and make her way straight over to the nurses’ station. I can’t hear what she’s saying from here, but by the way the nurses shrink back, I gather they’re getting a mouthful of her toxicity as well.
Although I don’t know her personally, I’ve always gathered Cassandra’s mother was a piece of work, but never in a million years did I believe she was this bad.
Chapter4
Connor
Istand at the glass window and gaze into Cassandra’s room, and a small smile tugs at my lips as I watch her with my sister. Jacinta’s now climbed on the bed beside Cassie. I have no clue what they’re talking about, but I’m glad she’s here. She’s better at this stuff than I am, and Cassie seems so much happier today.
Despite Doctor Amanda Lewis’s attempts, she failed to have me ejected from her daughter’s room. I’m only standing out here now because the protocol in intensive care is one visitor at a time, so of course, I stepped out the second my sister arrived.
Cass finally woke yesterday evening, and in between the doctor and nurse visits, the numerous tests, pokes, prods, and questions, I eventually got my one-on-one time with her. It was kind of awkward when she first opened her eyes to find me sitting beside her bed … I was probably the last person she wanted or expected to see.
As much as I wanted to deep dive into what the hell had happened, I managed to keep the conversation light. She’s fragile right now and needs our love, support, and understanding, not criticism.
One of the first things she asked me was if her parents had been in to see her. There was no way I was going to tell her what her mother had said in the short time she’d visited. I’m still trying to comprehend it myself. All I said was that she’d called by briefly between surgeries. That news had gained me an eye roll.“And my dad?”she’d asked hopefully.
“As far as I know your mother asked the hospital not to contact him.”
“Of course she did,”she said, rolling her eyes for a second time.
She tried to brush it off like it didn’t bother her, but I saw straight through it. It broke my damn heart. I desperately wanted to reach out and hug her, but I refrained. From the second she woke, it’s been a constant struggle not to react. I wanted to fold her in my arms and weep at the fact she was still here … still with us. But sadly, that’s not who we are anymore.
I offered to reach out to her father on her behalf, but she told me not to bother. I hate that she’s constantly overlooked by them, and I’m sure I don’t know the half of it. I hope Jacinta and I can convince her to come back to Sydney with us when she’s well enough to travel. After seeing her mother in action yesterday, I can’t leave her here with them. She needs to be around people who are going to lift her up, not tear her down.
I eventually make my way back down the corridor and take a seat. I feel like a creeper standing at the glass and watching them. They need their time together; they have a lot to work through.
The look of pure elation on Cassandra’s face when Jacinta walked in said it all—it was a stark contrast to the reaction I got when she saw me sitting beside the bed.
