Chapter Twenty
Grace
My stomach churns with unease as I pull in at Nelson’s house. It was satisfying to see Huxley deal with Karie this afternoon. He didn’t pull any punches with me, but he didn’t pull any with her either, thank God. If he’d been deferential to her, the marriage would become even more intolerable.
Not that there are any signs our union is going to be peaceful. I mean… Yes, what I said to Adam could have sounded bad, if you didn’t know the context. But Huxley didn’t have to fly off the handle without giving me a chance to explain. Or worse, reject the truth that Adam and I are just friends because he’s just too damn proud and stubborn to admit he’s wrong.
And that prenup! He acted like it was going to devastate me, but it only made me sad. What have I done to give such a terrible impression of myself? I’ve never treated him unfairly, but he views everything about me in the worst possible light.
I signed it to avoid wasting time and energy. I don’t need his money. The document won’t change my financial circumstances in any way. I’ll continue to work and contribute to Mom’s care. Nelson and Karie will continue to write their monthly checks. If they try to punt the responsibility to Huxley, I’ll tell them I’ll run to Andreas, although his assistant might block me from seeing him. He’s a busy man, and he rarely has time for anybody, unless they can afford his exorbitant rate. It’s exhausting to have to constantly fight for what I’ve been promised, but that’s what happens when you’re the lowest of everyone’s priorities. If I threaten the reputation of the family, Andreas might spare three minutes, though… I think.
Before I left the 4D Agency, Huxley said I’d better be packed by eight. What does he think I am? A dog that jumps at the snap of his fingers?
Besides, even if I wanted to go along with him to avoid another argument, I can’t. Not today. Karie was waiting outside his office. “We need to talk,” she said.
“I’m busy,” I told her brusquely, trying not to show satisfaction at how she’d been treated just moments earlier.
“Too busy to discuss your mom’s bills?”
I stopped, and a smirk twisted her mouth.
“That’s what I thought. Come over after work or we’ll have a problem.”
Now that I’m here… I exhale. Whatever Karie plans to do is going to be ugly. She understands she can’t bend Huxley to her will, which means she’s going to go through me. If Huxley and I weren’t in the situation we are in, I might consider asking him for help, but I doubt he’ll show me any mercy. He only got nasty with her because she interrupted him. I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t side with her just to make me miserable.
I walk inside and see not only Karie, but Nelson and Viv in the living room, seated in armchairs designed to look like thrones. Nelson must’ve left the office early for the occasion. No sign of the housekeeper—likely dismissed early so no outsider will witness the scene to come. The notion spikes my stress, and a fresh wave of acid sloshes in my belly.
“Call it off!” Viv demands.
“Good evening, Viv. You look lovely too.” Since there’s only a footstool, I remain standing, rather than crouching at their feet. The furniture setup is a silent reminder of my place in this family.
Viv slams her fist on the arm of her chair. “Call it off ! You don’t deserve him! You conniving bitch! You aren’t really pregnant, are you?”
I put a hand over my belly. “You want to place a bet?”
She hesitates, suddenly uncertain. “Like you have anything worth wagering!” she finally says.
“You’re right. I don’t have any thing …except my mother’s love.”
Smug contempt crosses Viv’s face. “Your mother’s love? You wish—”
“That’s enough!” Karie says.
Viv shuts up, which is weird. Normally she would argue and whine that she should be able to “exercise her constitutional right to free speech.”
But before I can ponder on the odd reaction, Karie says, “You owe me an apology, Grace.”
“For what?”
“For the way Huxley treated me.”
She insisted on seeing me for this ? “He’s an adult. Ask him.”
“Is this how you show gratitude for our sacrifice?”
“What sacrifice?” I ask, truly lost.
“We have been paying for Winona’s treatment. It isn’t cheap.”
“Trying to set an example of generosity for you,” says Nelson.
The words are suffocating. It always comes to this. Be grateful because we are paying for your mother’s care. Do as we say because we are paying for your mother’s care. Don’t you love your mother? Do you want her dead? I look at Karie. “Not for free.”
“Don’t talk to your mother that way,” Nelson says.
“She’s not my mother. And never will be.” I clench my hands to hide the tremor of anger.
He shakes his head, his mouth tight. “You’re a disgrace. I expected you to be a better girl. We taught you better than this!”
“Oh, you taught me.” All the pent-up rage explodes. “And whose example should I have followed? Yours ? So you want me to bang somebody and then abandon the child? Or Karie, who used my mother’s medical bills to force me into taking the LSAT for Viv so she could fraudulently get into Harvard Law? You’ve never shown me a single admirable quality, and I’d rather lick shit off the floor of a horse stall than become anything like either of you. Oh, and by the way, please don’t come to my wedding. It’d be too embarrassing. For me .”
“How dare you!” Nelson shouts.
“Who’s going to walk you down the aisle?” Karie manages. She’s furious, but also concerned about the family image. It’s everything to her.
“I’ll think of someone. And you can bet it’ll be someone who doesn’t always put me down, or threaten to deny my mother medical care she needs. A homeless crack addict would be better than either of you. You’ve never been my family, not in any way that truly matters.”
Nelson jumps to his feet and lunges forward. He raises his meaty hand.
Shock grips me in a tight vise—I can’t move. Fire explodes in my face, and my head snaps to the side. I blink to clear my dimming vision. Coppery warmth fills my mouth, and the inside of my cheek stings.
He’s never gotten physically violent before. He tries to act like he’s above that and silently urges Mick to do his dirty work. Guess I hit too close to the mark and it was intolerable when he couldn’t think of anything clever to rebut me.
“Get out, you ungrateful cunt!”
Nelson’s vicious shout shatters the shocked stupor. I stare at him blankly for a moment, my face throbbing.
“You deserved that.” Karie’s tone is smooth and calm, but a satisfied smirk gives her away. “Next time, show some respect.”
Behind her, Viv is grinning. And probably praying the bruise will still be visible at the wedding.
My brain numb, I seize the chance to leave without saying a word. My hands shake as I fumble for my fob, then climb into my car. The drive home passes like a fever dream, but somehow I find myself back in front of my condo complex.
Still on autopilot, I park the car and step out. My knees feel weak. I shouldn’t be so stunned or upset. Nelson and his family have always hated me. They’re just worried at the possibility that they might not be able to control and abuse me like they used to. They’re probably terrified Huxley will learn what they’ve done to me over the years, especially after the way he showed nothing but contempt for Karie this afternoon.
Will they escalate this violence toward me? I wish there was something I could do. But if I report the incident to the police, nothing will happen. Nelson’s a lawyer, and his son is the DA. Besides, even if the police are sympathetic, Nelson and Karie will withhold payments for Mom’s bills in retaliation. Who knows when I’ll be able to see Andreas and beg for his intervention? By then, it might be too late, and I’d truly end up killing the only family I have.
It’s just a slap—a bruise and a little blood in my mouth. Both will heal. When Mom gets well enough to be discharged, I won’t have to put up with Nelson or any of his family anymore.
“Where have you been?”
I freeze. Huxley appears out of a Bugatti parked two spots away. I quickly step into the building’s shadow. I don’t want him to notice what happened, because if he acts like nothing’s wrong, it’ll be humiliating and painful. There’s a sliver of hope in my heart that maybe…just maybe Huxley won’t be so cruel and uncaring after the way he stood up for me earlier against Karie. But the fear that he might turn his back on me is greater.
At the same time, if he notices and says something… Well, that could be embarrassing. I hate the irrational shame I feel over what Nelson has done. He’s the bad guy, not me!
I try for a steady tone of voice. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you to pack your things. It’s already after nine.”
“Karie and I had some things to discuss at her house.”
He comes closer. I shift deeper into the dark.
He reaches out and takes hold of my chin. His eyes glitter dangerously in the dark, and I swallow as trepidation clenches around my gut.
“Who did this to you?” His voice is low, but as icily cold as I’ve ever heard.
“What?” I say shakily. He couldn’t possibly have seen my face…
“This bruise. Who did it?”
I push his hand away. “It’s none of your business.”
“We’re engaged. That means you’re mine now. And when somebody touches what’s mine, it becomes my business.” He pulls me closer to the streetlight.
I look away, unable to bear the judgment. His breathing roughens. He raises his hand, and I flinch. An expletive. My stomach twists.
His finger is oddly gentle as it brushes my throbbing cheek. Inexplicable tears spring to my eyes. I blink rapidly. It’d be too foolish to cry and show weakness. In my experience, showing weaknesses is begging for abuse. I’m not giving anybody that power over me.
“A woman wouldn’t be strong enough to hurt you this badly.” He narrows his eyes. He’s probably mentally going over all the people in my life he’s aware of. His gaze burns into mine. “So not Karie. Or Vivienne. Who was it?”
I keep mum, looking down at my hands. Why does he care so much about who did it? It isn’t like he can do anything to Nelson. The Huxleys’ and the Webbers’ business interests override everything.
“Fine,” he spits out between clenched teeth. “We’ll figure this out together.”