Eruption - Chapter 9 #2
"I'm not done. I came here trying to give you both the benefit of the doubt.
But do you have any idea how much you've hurt him?
Forcing him to marry Isabella even though he didn't love her?
He would have done anything to make you happy.
Don't you see that? He's tried so hard to please both of you.
But you're impossible. Do you even know what he's been through?
He was depressed. And it's your fault. You made him an addict. "
"Enough!" yelled his dad. "Our son's shortcomings are no one's fault but his own. He's never known what's best for him. He chose to find solace in vices because he's weak. He's always been weak." His father's words made tears come to my eyes.
"James is the strongest person I know. Strong enough to walk away from his own parents. And thank goodness, because the thought of ever being in the same room as either of you again makes me feel sick to my stomach. You're both pretentious snobs. And you don't deserve his love."
"Is that quite all?" his father asked. "Are you done insulting us in our own house?"
"If you give me more time, I'm sure I can think of something else to say." I glared back at him. I knew I was being childish. But it was better than punching him in the face, which is what I really wanted to do.
"There is one more check in the check book. We're willing to pay you five million dollars total to walk away from our family. I suggest you take it."
"Or what?"
"You may think that we don't love our son, but we're willing to do anything to protect him."
"He doesn't need your protection. What he needs is your love. What is wrong with you?"
His father frowned. "We need to get back to our guests." He walked out of the room without another word. James' mother stared at me for a second before following her husband out of the office.
I sunk into one of the chairs in front of the desk and put my face in my hands, finally letting my tears free.
Why hadn't I just left with James when he told me to?
I hadn't believed him. I didn't think there was any way that his parents were as bad as he said.
But he was right. They were absolutely horrid.
And now James was out somewhere alone. I thought about earlier in the week when his mother called.
He had seemed so happy that they were finally willing to meet me.
He let himself get his hopes up, just to be crushed by them again.
And I had put him in that situation. He was probably furious with me.
The thought just made me cry even harder.
"Oh my. I'm guessing your little conversation didn't go so well?"
My whole body felt cold. I quickly wiped my tears away and looked up at Isabella. "Please, Isabella. Not right now."
She walked into the room, closing the door behind her. "I have a few things to say myself."
"Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have already filled me in on their plans to get you two back together. I don't want to hear about it."
"You poor thing. You really had no idea why Jonathan and Susan invited you here?" She looked down at the scattered pieces of the checks on the ground.
If she thought that her being on a first name basis with them bothered me, she was dead wrong. I never wanted to be that close to them. Not now that I knew what they were like.
"I believe James was thrilled to see me. It's been much too long since we were close. And I'm excited to change that."
"Why can't you just leave him alone?"
"I let him have his fling. I gave him the distance he needed. It's time for us to work things out."
"You loathe each other. What on earth are you talking about?"
"Just because he's not addicted to me doesn't mean he doesn't love me. It's a sickness. If you want what's best for him, you'll let him go. I'm the only one who knows what he needs. I can help him."
"He doesn't need your help." I stood up. "And he's not addicted to me. He loves me."
"It's a fine line. And I'm afraid it's a little blurry for him."
"All he needs from you is to be left alone. Please, just leave us both alone."
"I'm trying to help you. I'm giving you the chance to walk away from all of this. You still have your whole life ahead of you. You don't want to spend time taking care of..."
"He doesn't need to be taken care of. We've been together for two and a half years and I've seen nothing. He's fine. He's over whatever it is you're talking about. We're both fine."
"He's not fine. He's addicted to you."
"Stop saying that." I knew she was just trying to make me paranoid. But James was fine. He wasn't like that anymore.
"You're rewarding his behavior."
"Are you so blind that you can't see the difference? Just because no one has ever loved you doesn't mean you have to take it out on me."
"You don't think James loved me? He really does like to keep you in the dark, doesn't he? His affection lasted for a few years and then it was gone. The same thing will happen to you."
"Stop living in the past. It's pathetic."
"Stop living in denial."
"Don't you ever come near him again, Isabella. Leave us alone."
"Or what?"
"You don't want to find out."
She laughed. "I'm so unbelievably scared.
" She smiled at me. "There's two weeks until your wedding.
Which means I have two weeks to make James see the light.
It's plenty of time. I just have to remind him about what he's missing.
I'll only need a few minutes alone with him.
Until he's screaming my name instead of yours. "
"You bitch."
She slapped me hard across the face.
I grabbed my cheek. No one had ever slapped me before. I hadn't been expecting that at all. She was wearing a few rings on her hand and I could feel the small bruises already forming on my face.
She put her hand on her cheek and made a fake shocked look. "Sorry, did I hurt you?" She removed her hand from her own cheek and smiled. "I didn't think you'd mind. I know how aggressive James can be. I figured you liked to be smacked around."
"You don't know him, Isabella. I know you wish you did. I know you're upset that he left you. But it's not my fault. Stop blaming me for your shortcomings."
"My shortcomings? He slept with you while he was still married to me. You're a slut."
"Look, you can keep his parents. I know you have them wrapped around your finger.
And I want nothing to do with them. But you can't have him.
He's mine." I walked past her and out of the room.
I looked to the right toward the party. There was still light classical music pouring through the hallway.
I turned to the left and walked as quickly as I could away from everyone else.
I pulled out my phone and called James. There was still no answer. I stopped in the middle of the foyer, unsure of where to go. I heard voices outside and the front door started to open. I couldn't face anyone else right now. I turned and ran up the stairs.