Chapter 3

I pulled my hand out of my mother's grip.

"In the beginning, wasn't she the one who wrecked my marriage?"

A year ago, how had they cursed Georgina?

They'd called her shameless, a homewrecker, and even gone with me to the hotel to slap her around.

"So how is she the victim now?"

My mother's face went stiff.

Abigail's voice shot up, urgent.

"It was a misunderstanding! Someone else drugged Kevin, and Gina was set up too. She's a victim as well!"

The chat logs between Kevin and Georgina flashed through my mind.

At the very start, it was plainly Georgina who, for money, had spiked Kevin's drink on her own.

Afterward Kevin had gripped her throat and warned her that if she ever talked, he'd kill her.

At the beginning, even Kevin had despised her.

I didn't bother arguing.

What was the point of fighting over any of it?

They could flip black into white just to whitewash Georgina.

"Do whatever you want."

I stood and walked toward the door.

Kevin stepped over in one stride and blocked it.

"Where are you going?"

"I already said it. Do whatever you want. I don't care anymore."

My mother ran over and clamped her arms around my waist.

"Dar, don't do anything stupid! Are you going to go settle the score with Gina? I'm begging you, don't go hurt her!"

Abigail blocked the door too, watching me warily.

"Darlene, drop the act. Someone like you, who can't survive without other people, there's no way you don't care."

"You're definitely planning to go corner Gina at the nightclub, aren't you?"

I looked at them.

The hole in my chest that had been leaking air this whole time split wide open.

Kevin seized my wrist and shoved me hard, back into the room.

"Since you can't calm down, stay in your room and think it over."

I stared at the shut door and shouted through it.

"I don't care anymore!"

"I won't cause her any trouble, and I won't beg for your love anymore. Let me out!"

Abigail's cold sneer came from the other side.

"Who's going to believe you? You go to pieces if you're alone for a single day. You care?"

My mother sighed.

"Darlene, stop sulking. Just stay in there and really reflect. Once Gina leaves tomorrow, we'll let you out."

The footsteps faded away.

I slid down the door until I was sitting on the floor.

It was fine.

I'd have another family soon.

There, I'd have people who truly loved me. I wouldn't need their fake charity anymore.

I don't know how much time passed.

Then came the sound of the keypad lock at the front door being unlocked.

"Kev, Mom, Abby, are you all here?"

The three of them rushed to meet her at once.

"Gina, what are you doing here? The wind's so strong out there, why didn't you let me come get you?" Kevin's voice had gone gentle again.

"I came to see Darlene. Whatever went wrong, it's all my fault. I have to at least apologize to her." Georgina's voice was thick with tears.

"Apologize for what! None of this is your fault!" my mother said, aching for her.

"That's right, Gina. Darlene's in a temper, don't go provoking her. She'll hurt you." Abigail chimed in.

"She won't. Darlene's a good girl. She'll forgive me."

The footsteps stopped outside my door.

The door was pushed open.