Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
His eyes widen as he gives his head a violent shake. “No, I—”
“Just stop! I don’t want to hear any more of your lies.” My voice escalates with each syllable that shoots out of my mouth. “I know you did this. You’re the only one who knew.” There’s a pause before I add, “Not only did you threaten to tell everyone about the affair, you blackmailed Pembroke with the information.”
Emotion flickers in his eyes as he bursts into movement, eating up the distance between us with a handful of long-legged strides. Just as he reaches for me, I leap back, stumbling in my haste to avoid physical contact.
“Don’t you dare touch me. You have nothing on me now. So, go fuck yourself!”
“Delilah, please…”
There is so much pent-up emotion in those two words. It claws at my insides, but I refuse to get suckered in by him again. Not only has he hurt me, but my mom as well.
Oh god.
Mom.
I shake my head, carefully darting past him. This time, he doesn’t try to stop me. He allows me to flee from the scene.
Even though the copy room is less than eighty feet away, it’s like time slows and it takes forever to finally reach the small space. I feel every beat of my pounding heart as I grip the edge of the doorjamb and crash over the threshold. My gaze flies around the cramped room before fastening on Mom. She’s slumped in a chair with a look of shock etched across her face. A sick knot settles in the pit of my gut.
When she continues to stare off into space, not acknowledging my presence, I whisper, “Mom?”
There’s no reaction.
It’s like I’m not even here.
Fear slithers down my spine.
I raise my voice, hoping to knock her from the stupor that has cocooned its way around her. “Mom?”
With a blink, she gradually turns her head until her gaze can lock on mine. A vacant look fills her blue eyes.
“Are you all right?” I whisper before wincing.
It’s a ridiculous question. Of course she isn’t.
Tears fill her eyes and spike her lashes as she shakes her head. “How? How could something like this happen?”
Guilt crashes over me.
It’s my fault.
At least, partially.
Even though I should confess and tell her who’s responsible, I can’t bring myself to say his name. At the end of the day, it won’t change the situation.
Her affair with Pembroke has been thrust into the spotlight, and there’s no way to drag it back into the darkness where it belongs.
DELILAH
I keep my head angled down and my shoulders hunched as I make my way through the crowded parking lot to the front entrance of the school. The past couple of days have been a veritable nightmare.
It didn’t take long for everyone to figure out who Pembroke was screwing. As soon as the board caught wind of the incident, our headmaster was swiftly terminated. Within thirty minutes, he was escorted off the premises with a small cardboard box overflowing with his belongings. Mom was allowed to keep her job since she was a subordinate but is currently searching for a new one. The humiliation of having their affair publicly outed and gossiped about has been too much for her to endure.
Pembroke broke off their relationship through text and refuses to return any of Mom’s calls. The man is a coward unworthy of her attention. It’s so tempting to tell her I told you so, but how can I do that?
My heart breaks for her. This is the first man she’s gotten involved with since Dad died, and it ended disastrously.
Even though Hawthorne Prep is the last place I want to show my face, there isn’t much choice in the matter. I can’t afford to miss my classes. Plus, what’s the point in putting off the inevitable?
Unlike the other scandals, this one isn’t going to blow over anytime soon. The aftermath will linger like a foul stench in the air for months to come.
Each new day feels like a summit that needs to be scaled.
It’s exhausting.
Physically.
Mentally.
Emotionally.
“Hey, Delilah. Wait up,” a voice calls out.
With a wince, I hasten my step. I’m tired of all the comments and questions. The smirks and jabs. The crude offers.
Should have known… Whore mother, whore daughter.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’m on the cusp of shattering into a million jagged pieces. Unlike Humpty Dumpty, I will never be put back together again. It’s a disturbing thought that continues to ricochet in my brain. Holding everything together is taking a herculean effort on my part. It’ll be a miracle if I make it to three o’clock intact.
I cut quickly across the parking lot, only wanting to slip inside the stone building. The new plan is to hide out in the photography studio until the first hour bell rings. Mrs. Chambers has taken pity on me and doesn’t ask any questions. Although, I’m sure she’s heard all the rumors that are circulating.