Page 5 of Twisted Lies
Fuck!
The stench of alcohol on her breath made me want to hurl.
“Respect?” I looked at her incredulously. “You belittle me in front of a roomful of strangers, and you want to talk about respect?” My jaw tightened. “I’ve been accepted into fashion school, and I’m going,” I snapped.
Grace crossed her arms. “Well, that’s not happening. You will work here until you find someone from the right family to take pity on your ass and marry you.” She stared at me coldly.
I couldn’t believe that growing up, all I’d wanted—no, all I’dneeded—was to be loved by her. It was a bitter pill to swallow that she would never love me, but I had to let go.
“No, Grace, I’m not. I’m going to school. It’s what I want, and more importantly, it’s what Dad would want.”
She glared at me with contempt. “Well, he’s not here, is he?”
My mouth tightened. “No, he isn’t!” I shouted. “Dad died from working himself to death to give you all the superficial bullshit you demanded, like some pampered princess.” My mind reeled with distaste at how cavalierly she was acting, as if Dad’s death had meant absolutely nothing. Briefly, I closed my eyes to calm down, and then I stared at her pointedly. “Look, I’m not here to ask for your permission. All I ask is that you help me with tuition for the first semester.”
She scoffed. “Not happening.”
I shook my head, disappointment clear on my face. “Maybe I’m expecting way too much from you. I was hoping for a little happiness or maybe some compassion.” Tired, I ran a hand over my forehead. “Fuck, I’m so damn delusional.”
Grace was the only family I had left, and even when she cut me down every day with her hurtful words, I would stay. It was a fucked-up dependency. Maybe all the years of her pounding into my head that I wasn’t worth shit had finally taken root, like poison ivy tainting my soul and mind. Maybe I was just too fucked in the head to leave.I mean, who in their right mind lives and works with someone who doesn’t like them—let alone, respect them?
I sighed heavily. The answer was abundantly clear—me.
I was done being walked on and making sacrifices for a woman who didn’t give a shit about me.
Grace’s eyes were vacant. “My answer is no, Sin. I’m not giving you a damn dime,” she snapped. “Besides, I need you here to help me run the teahouse.”
I opened my mouth, closed it, and then repeated the procedure. “You can’t be serious?” I glared at her. “I’m not a child, Grace. I’m eighteen years old. I’ve spent all my life being exactly what you want—good grades, no drugs, and flawless. After Dad died, I helped you build your business. I did it because I love you, but that doesn’t mean you get to make my decisions for me or judge me when I don’t agree with you or don’t want to be your minion.”
Her well-groomed eyebrows lifted. “I will not use my money to pay for some bullshit fashion design school. Besides, I’ve seen your tasteless clothes, and you’re not that talented. Believe me, you willnevermake it.”
I stared at her, wondering when she became such a hateful, judgmental bitch. “I’m not working here, and I’m going to school,” I sneered.
She went stubbornly silent with pinched lips. “Fine. You are no longer welcome in my home. Consider yourself cut off from me.”
I swallowed hard. “Since you’ve never loved me, Grace, there’s not much to miss.”
Her face went rigid. “You ungrateful little tramp!”
“What the hell should I be grateful for?” I laughed bitterly. “I spent so long putting everything you want and need first that I stopped mattering, even to myself. I’m not even a functioning person. I’m just a shell.” I was done with Grace and her verbal abuse. I needed the toxic waste out of my life. It was time to start anew.
“Good-bye,Mother.”
Her mouth dropped open in shock. “You’ll never make it,” she screeched. “You’ll be back, begging for forgiveness.”
My face tightened. “I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.”
I turned on my heel and walked out of the office and back through the teahouse. I was never planning on looking back. Stepping onto the sidewalk, I ripped the pearls off my neck, staring as they bounced and rolled across the pavement and into the gutter, exactly where they belonged. I glanced up at the beautiful clouds as I exhaled. This was my new start, and I wasn’t going to waste another damn second thinking about my dark past again.
2
Sinthia
Twelve Months Later
Jade fluffed up my hair,determined to glam me up. I rolled my eyes at her. I guessed it wasn’t enough that I had on my hottest outfit. She pursed her lips, beholding her masterpiece—me.
“Where’s your party face?” Jade asked.
