Page 52 of Imogen

“She’s fucking lying. I’ve always treated her kindly. It’s her who has treated me like crap. I did something nice for her birthday and she threw it in my face. That’s what really happened. She was ungrateful.”

I shake my head, disappointed in his response. I hoped my words would reach him. I turn to his mum, tears pooling in my eyes. “I’ve done the same thing for my birthday for as long as I can remember. I told him what that day meant to me and to my family, but he went behind my back, knowing my mum would never say no. I didn’t appreciate him doing that, but what made me snap was when he kept my phone from me. There had been an emergency, and because he wanted my attention on him, he kept my phone from me.”

“Zach, why on earth would you treat her like this?” his mum asks, clearly unsettled by my declaration.

“We taught you better than this, son,” his dad remarks, disappointment in his tone.

Dad places his arm around my waist, though, thankfully, doesn’t intervene.

Zach’s cheeks redden to the point they match the colour of the car behind him. “You are going to believe a smackhead’s daughter over your own son?”

I suck in a breath at his insult. “My mum and dad don’t take drugs,” I snap, as my dad’s hand on my hip tenses. Hell, Mum didn’t even take a strong painkiller when she dislocated her knee. “Where do you get off saying this? I’ve been trying to stay civil, but you are constantly pushing me, Zach. Stop this nonsense.”

“Come on, I think this is enough,” Jackson warns.

“Yes, it really is,” Dad bites out.

Zach throws his head back, laughing dryly. The sound sends a shiver down my spine. “Your step-in mum isn’t actually your mum. Didn’t know that, did you? Your real mum was a slut who got around. You were born an addict because of her and she didn’t even stick around to see if you survived.”

“Zach,” his mum breathes, appalled.

My throat tightens. “What are you talking about?”

“I suggest you walk away,” Dad threatens.

“I just couldn’t figure out if you were her real dad or not, though,” Zach taunts.

“Son, stop!” his dad warns. “That’s enough.”

“No, it’s not,” Zach remarks harshly.

I glance at Dad, seeing unfiltered anger staring back at Zach, and I know… I know in my heart Zach is telling the truth. “Dad, please tell me this is a lie.”

Heartache shines down at me, and I step away from him. The man who has been my hero, my protector. “Imogen,” he begins.

“Is he right? Are you not my dad?”

“Of course I’m your dad.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Are you biologically my dad?”

“Yes,” he breathes out.

“Well that answers that,” Zach remarks smugly.

“Shut up!” we yell.

Dad’s words hold a ring of truth. So that leaves Mum. The weight of his answer weighs down on me. “And Mum?” I choke out. “Is she biologically my mum?”

He flinches at the question. “Yes,” he replies quietly.

“You are lying,” I murmur, unable to mask the pain as I take another step back. “You are lying.”

“Imogen, wait!” he orders, but I’m already moving, racing to my car.

“Imogen,” Jackson calls, but I ignore his plea.

And Zach’s taunting laughter.

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