Chapter 33
Karina
I take a deep breath, the kind that’s supposed to steady nerves but never really does.
My hand hovers over the door handle for what feels like an eternity before I finally push it open and step out onto the curb.
The familiar crunch of gravel underfoot is oddly comforting as I make my way to my mother’s house, each step heavy with reluctance.
I still can’t believe she pocketed eight hundred thousand dollars off the back of my marriage to Vulcan.
I don’t want to be here, but I need to know what the woman wants.
I raise my fist to knock, three short raps that sound too loud on the quiet street. The door swings open, and there she is.
“Karina,” she says, surprised. Of course she would be; I didn’t respond to her text last week—she likely assumed I wouldn’t show.
“We need to talk.”
She doesn’t say anything but steps aside.
As I walk through the threshold, I can see that the money she’s taken hasn’t gone to waste.
Almost everything in her house looks brand-new and expensive.
I follow my mother into the kitchen, where she’s already setting out two cups on the table.
Well, this is a surprise. She’s never offered me anything during past visits.
“What brings you to the Bronx? Getting tired of Manhattan?” Her attempt to sound casual fails miserably.
“I know about the money. The half a million dollars from Vulcan, and the agreement that you would leave me alone for three years.” I level her with a cold look. “And yet you only lasted one. So I’m here to find out why. Why didn’t you tell me? How could you do this?”
She pauses, her hands frozen on the handle of the kettle. Then she turns, and her expression hardens. “You come into my house questioning me about something your friend had a hand in. Did you ask him?”
I hope Vulcan didn’t tell her we were getting married. I’d prefer not to go down that road with her.
“Yes, I spoke with Vulcan. But you shouldn’t have taken it in the first place. I’m your daughter. And you didn’t think twice about not speaking to me for three years? You just took the money as if I’m nothing?”
She scoffs. “Here we go again with the dramatics, Karina. I reached out to you because I figured you wouldn’t be associated with that man any longer. Little did I know he would run to you and snitch.”
“Mother,” I start. “Vulcan and I… we’re more than friends now, but that’s beside the point. What I’m upset about is that you choosing money over a relationship with me.”
Her eyes widened slightly, and she clearly did not expect this twist. “More than friends? Karina, are you serious?” She leans against the counter, crossing her arms. “You think he cares about you? Why would you date someone old enough to be your father?”
“Now you’re pushing it. Vulcan is not that much older than me.
” I can’t believe she has me arguing about this.
Classic Gabrielle Reyes behavior: distract and deflect.
“He cares about me and yes, I’m serious about him.
” My hands clench into fists on my lap as I struggle to maintain composure.
“I need you to explain to me what would possess you to manipulate us into getting almost a million dollars, collectively.”
“You don’t understand the pressures I was under. He forced me to sign, and that money—your father left me with nothing but debts, and I—”
“Stop!” I cut her off, my voice sharp. I stand up, slamming my hand down on the table.
“I know all about the debts. I’ve been helping with them since I started my residency, hell, even before that.
They’ve long since been paid off. What I don’t understand is how you could choose money over your flesh and blood. ”
It happens so quickly. One second she’s standing by the kettle and the next she’s in front of me, rearing her hand back and swinging it to connect with my face.
What just happened. My mother has never put her hands on me—correction, she has never slapped me before ever.
Growing up, did I get hit with a chancla or two? Yes, but slapping me… never.
“I did what I had to do!” Her face twists angrily. “Do you think you know everything because you went to college, and now you’re saving lives? You don’t know what it’s like to be left with nothing!”
Tears well in my eyes, not just from the physical pain but from the raw, emotional wound that has just been sliced open between us.
“You weren’t left with nothing. Papá made sure you were taken care of.
It was you who got a taste of a lifestyle you couldn’t keep up with.
A lifestyle whose bill I had to foot.” I take a deep breath, needing to get us back on track, not letting her derail this conversation.
“Greedy? You must forget who the parent is here. Watch your mouth and tone, or you can leave my house now.” She takes a step back. “I see that man has put something in your head to make you think it’s okay to come in here and behave this way.”
“This is about us, about you and me.” I’ve always and will always respect my mother because isn’t that what you are supposed to do? Honor thy mother and father. Right?
“Then why bring him into this?”
“You!” I exclaim. “You brought him into this, not me. Remember when you went behind my back and were handed half a million dollars? You signed on the dotted line, thinking he and I wouldn’t be together in a year.
Well, news flash. He is my husband, God damn it; he respects me and loves me more than you ever have. ”
My face snaps to the right with the force of her next blow. “Get out. Just get out of my house and never come back. You married that man without telling me? Are you even my daughter?”
I stare at her, shocked, as the tears spill over. For a moment, I’m that little girl again, desperate for her mother’s love and approval.
No. I’m not her anymore. I’m a woman who’s found strength in herself and in the love of a good man.
“I’m the daughter who’s been trying to make you proud her whole life.
The daughter who’s been paying your bills and cleaning up your messes.
The daughter who kept hoping that one day, just maybe, you’d love me as much as I love you.
You’d love me like you love Miguel and Luis.
So, Mother, when I walk out those doors now, you will never see me again.
I swear to God you will never see or hear from me again. ”
Her face crumbles. “No, don’t say that. You don’t mean it.”
I swipe my cheeks roughly. I refuse to cry any more tears in front of her. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep sacrificing my happiness for someone who doesn’t even appreciate me.”
She clasps her hands together, pleading now. Of course she’d change her tune. Her meal ticket is about to leave her behind for good. “We can fix this—”
“No, we can’t,” I interrupt sharply. The finality in my voice feels like a door slamming shut. “Are you even sorry for what you did?” It’s sad, how desperate I am to forgive her.
My mother has had enough with the play-acting, it would seem. “No, I’m not.” She crosses her arms. “And you shouldn’t want me to feel sorry.”
“I sacrificed so much for you and the twins. There were times I’d barely have enough money left over for groceries.
I can’t and won’t do this anymore. I have a great man, and my life has been amazing.
I don’t want you in my life ruining that for me.
I finally know what it feels like to be loved—truly loved. ”
“It’s just money, Karina. Money.” She speaks as if I’m the unreasonable one.
“It’s not just money. It’s about respect, trust… love. It’s about putting me first. Your own daughter.”
She looks at me as though she’s seeing me clearly for the first time in years, and the look of pure hatred that flashes across her face chills me to the bone.
“I have to go,” I say. That look alone tells me everything I need to know. I don’t belong here.
“So ungrateful.” Her mask of motherly concern slips away entirely. “I knew I should have told your father no when he took you in. I raised an ungrateful child who can’t see past her own needs.”
Every muscle in my body tightens. What is she implying…? “What did you just say?”
“You’re old enough for the truth now.” She smirks.
“Let me put this to you very clearly: you are not my biological daughter. Your father cheated on me, and to add insult to injury… I was forced to raise you. Your own mother didn’t want you.
So, I got stuck with the burden, didn’t I?
” I watch her lips move, my whole world rattling with the force of an earthquake.
But she’s not done. “Don’t give me any fucking crap about not giving me money.
It’s the least you can do. When I look at you, all I can see is her.
The woman who couldn’t keep her legs closed to a married man and got pregnant. ”
The room spins, and I grip the edge of the kitchen counter to steady myself. I struggle to breathe, my chest constricting as if I’m drowning on dry land. What is happening? What the hell is happening? She’s lying; she has to be lying. There is no way this can be— I can’t—
“How… how could you keep this from me?” I choke out.
She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You had a roof over your head, didn’t you? Food on your plate? More than that ungrateful bitch of a mother would have given you.”
Her words cut deep, each one a dagger to my heart. I want to scream, to cry, to lash out, but I’m frozen in place. My mind is reeling from the betrayal, not only from her but from my father. Because she has made me pay the price for his error for decades.
“All these years,” I manage to say, “all the times I tried to make you proud, to earn your love…”
“Love?” She sneers. “You want to talk about love? Try raising another woman’s child, a constant reminder of your husband’s infidelity. That’s love. A twisted sort of sacrifice.”
I shake my head, tears streaming freely down my face. “No. That’s not sacrifice. That’s cruelty.”
“You don’t get to judge me, Karina. You’ve no idea what I’ve been through. It makes me fucking sick to my stomach looking at you.”
“And you have no idea what you’ve put me through!” I retort. “I’ve spent my entire life feeling like I was never good enough, never worthy of your love—it all makes sense now. You used me.” The realization stings. “You’ve just been using me.”
“I did what I had to do to survive, and your brothers needed that money, too. You wouldn’t understand.”
I take a step back, my hands shaking. “You’re right. I don’t understand. I don’t understand how you could look me in the eye every day and pretend to be my mother when you hated me so much.”
She laughs a harsh, bitter sound that grates against my nerves. “Hate you? Oh, Karina, I don’t hate you. I feel nothing for you.”
“Then leave me alone,” I snap. “You and your sons are dead to me. If you need money, consider finding a job. Why put yourself in a position to see the face of the woman you hate so much? You could have cut ties with me after I graduated from high school. But now you don’t have to.
I’ll do it. You will never see me again. ”
“You’re choosing him over your own family?”
“What family? You’ve never shown concern for my well-being.
So, no, Gabriella, I’m not choosing Vulcan or anyone else over this fake family.
I’m choosing myself,” I correct her. “I’m choosing the life I deserve.
” I walk away without looking back, ignoring the urge to fix things like I always do.
She is the only mother I’ve ever known, and to hear her spit such vitriol at me… It’s like a knife twisting in my gut.
I storm out of the house, slamming the door behind me. I stumble down the steps, my vision blurred by tears. I fumble for my car keys, desperate to escape this place.
As I slide into the driver’s seat, I count down from ten, over and over. I have to pull myself together.
I have to.
I have to.
My phone buzzes. It’s Vulcan. For a moment, I consider ignoring it, but his name on the screen is like a lifeline.
“Karina? Are you okay? You’ve been gone for hours.”
I take a trembling breath, trying to steady my voice. “I… I’m not okay, Vulcan. Can you… Can you come get me? I don’t think I should be driving right now.”
“Of course. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
“Please hurry.”
“I’m on my way, babe. Just stay put, all right? I’ll be there soon.”
I end the call and lean back in my seat, closing my eyes, years of pain and disappointment pouring out from my eyelids. I don’t know how long I sit here, lost in my grief, before I hear the engine of a car.
Vulcan’s out of the taxi before it’s fully stopped, striding toward me with determination. Without a word, he opens my car door and pulls me into his arms. I collapse against his broad chest, inhaling his familiar scent.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, his strong arms banding around me. “I’ve got you, Karina.”
For the first time in my life, I truly believe those words.
We stand there for what feels like hours, Vulcan’s steady heartbeat a comforting rhythm against my cheek. His hand strokes my hair, soothing away the tremors that rack my body, until my sobs subside into hiccups, then quiet sniffles.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks, still rubbing at my back.
I shake my head, not ready to relive the confrontation. Not yet. “Can we just go home?”
He nods, pressing a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Of course. Come on, I’ll drive.”
Vulcan helps me into the passenger seat, his tender touch bringing fresh tears to my eyes. As we pull away from my mother’s house, I watch it shrink in the side mirror until it disappears. I will never step foot in there again.
The drive is quiet for the most part. Vulcan’s horrible singing fills the car, and I don’t think I can take another rendition of Bruno Mars’s “Versace on the Floor,” but it keeps me from crying. By the time we reach home, the adrenaline has faded, leaving me bone-weary.
Vulcan scoops me up and carries me inside as if I weigh nothing. He sets me on our bed, then kneels to remove my shoes.
“Vulcan.” I reach for him. “I’m sorry I ruined our evening.” I know he wanted to take me out for dinner tonight, but I’m nowhere near up for it.
He looks up, his eyes filled with understanding and love. “You didn’t ruin a thing, love. I’m just glad you called me.”
As he crawls into bed beside me, gathering me close, I allow myself to feel safe in the arms of the man I love.