Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81581 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81581 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“Dad,” I grunt, wincing at the never-ending fire that seems to rip across my back each time I move, despite the fact I’ve been here for weeks recovering. “I can’t go there. You know I can’t.”
He turns, a heavy sigh on his lips, and regards me with disdain flickering in his eyes. It’s a direct blow to my heart. No matter how hard I’ve tried to become my father—to fucking please him—it’s never enough. I’m never enough.
“Well, I sure as hell don’t have the time to take care of an invalid,” he snarls, his normally cool features screwed up in anger.
An ache forms in my chest but I ignore it. “We can hire a nurse. Please don’t make me stay there. You’re never there anymore and—”
“Because I have to work my ass off to provide for this ungrateful family!” he roars.
I blink at him in shock. My newest nurse, Sasha, peeks her head in and asks if I’m okay. Once she’s gone, I glare at my father. “She’s not ungrateful,” I hiss. “She’s sick. You need to call a therapist.”
He huffs and shakes his head. “Your mother isn’t sick. She’s just a shopaholic and she babies you kids. It’s not a sickness, it’s a personality flaw.”
I tremble as if I’ve been struck by him. “She loves us. Last time I checked, loving your children and husband wasn’t a personality flaw. It’s called ‘normal.’ But what isn’t normal is you staying in the city all the time. Gwen doesn’t understand.”
Guilt flashes in his eyes for a brief moment. My baby sister just turned five and is sickly. Mom tries to say it’s something to do with her body but my father always argues that it’s my mother’s filthy housekeeping that’s making her sick. Regardless, nobody has discovered yet what it is that’s making her ill.
“Gwen is just a girl. She doesn’t understand these things,” he grits out.
“But I’m not. You don’t explain anything. Why won’t you come home to them?”
His lip curls up slightly. “I already told you. My company is in the city. It’s time-consuming. I don’t have time to run home at every turn and take care of them. I’m able to take care of them financially so that’s what I do. Your mother doesn’t need a therapist, she just needs her own space.”
“Dad, it’s a cop out,” I snap.
He glares as he storms over to me, his finger wagging in my face. “Don’t come at me acting like you know everything, Grayson. I’ve been married to that woman for over two decades. Trust me when I say it works better this way. She can do…she can buy…she can collect whatever the hell she wants, and I can work. We stay out of each other’s hair and everyone is happy. Nobody needs fucking therapy.”
I stare up at him in disbelief. How can he even convince himself that all but abandoning Mom and Gwen is okay? Mom’s becoming more and more obsessed lately with online shopping. She buys all these things to make Gwen happy. Together, they pick stuff out online and act so fucking happy when shit comes in the mail. But it’s weird. It’s not normal. And it’s starting to collect.
“We’re a family,” I murmur. “We’re supposed to stick together.”
He growls. “You’re a grown man now. Discharged from the military due to your injuries, sure, but you have a bright future ahead of you that doesn’t have to involve the military. You’re smart and you’ll continue your education. I did what I could to set you down the right path. Gwen is your mother’s problem. They’re too much alike. I’ll never know how to handle that little girl. It’s high time you accept they’re happier just the two of them and eventually move on with your own life.”
“A life that doesn’t involve you,” I clarify, my voice shaking with anger. “You want Mom to nurse me back to health only for me to abandon them just like you did once I’m well? Just making sure that’s what you want me to fucking do, Dad. Will that make you proud? A chip off the old block—”
Fire explodes across my back as my father strikes me. An agonized scream rips from me, and tears roll out of my eyes on their own accord. Dad stares at me in shock for a moment upon realizing what he just did. I writhe in excruciating pain as he stalks out of the room, barking at a nurse to come see me on his way out.
Fuck you, Dad.
Fuck. You.
“Gray,” Violet grumbles as she steps into my office, dragging me from my memory. “You sent me flowers? And a Kindle?”
I shake away the dark thoughts and grin at her. “Do you like them?”
Her plump lips purse together as she closes the door behind her and leans against it. “This is too much. You’re going overboard.” She lifts her chin in a brave way—as if she’s been practicing this little speech all morning.