Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 126564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Yes. No. Maybe?
“It’s complicated,” I said finally. “Your presence here doesn’t only remind me of what happened with Craig and went undetected. For me, you symbolize my loss of independence. Or my never really gaining it in the first place. All the lies, the cover-ups about my dyslexia…the way you substitute your love and affection for me with mansions and designer bags…I’m mad at you. I’m angry at myself for letting it happen. And I’m not finished being angry.”
“Fair.” Dad rubbed his jaw. “We’re not going to push you to do anything you’re not ready for. But we have some things to say before we leave here. First of all, I’d like to apologize. This is a blanket statement, Hallie, so listen carefully. I apologize for not being present when I should have. For making the wrong decisions when you were too young to make them for yourself. For hurting you in my bid to protect you. For drowning you in material things instead of attention. For being absent, and focused on myself, on my career, when life began to unravel for you. For letting it spin out of control the way it did. Most of all,” he sucked in a breath, his lower lip quivering slightly, “I apologize for not being the father you deserved.”
You could’ve heard a pin drop. The place was so small our knees touched together. It was ridiculous to see all these powerful people sitting in a nine hundred dollar a month studio.
“My turn.” Mom wiped the corner of her eye, an embarrassed chuckle on her lips. “I would like to apologize, too. I suspect my role has played a big part in how you’re feeling right now. I’d been…so obsessed with my place in this world, with my title, with what I wanted to achieve, that I completely neglected you. Both of you.” She looked at Hera, too.
“Only with Hera, it was…different. She stayed close. She didn’t want to live far away. She sought my attention and advice actively, so it was easier to form a closer relationship with her. I foolishly believed if I gave you your space, you’d come to me eventually. That we would have a relationship. A part of me even resented you—my own daughter—for your lack of interest in me and my accomplishments. Instead of trying to figure out a way to you, I was waiting for you to find a way to me. I am so sorry. I never meant to cause you harm. I genuinely believed putting you through some tests that would label you a certain way would harm your self-esteem, not elevate it. I trusted in my way with such conviction, I couldn’t imagine, for a moment, a scenario where I could be wrong. I am so sorry, Hallie. If you just give me the chance, I know I can make the situation better. For both of us. Start over fresh.”
Again, I said nothing. It was a lot to process. My gaze was pinned on Hera. She was the only one who hadn’t said anything. A part of me didn’t think she would. Hallmark movies aside, people didn’t usually have epiphanies. Light bulb moments or defining points where they suddenly knew what to say and what to do. And recognizing your own errors was especially hard.
Cautiously, Hera opened her mouth. But instead of an apology, something else entirely came out.
“I hate my life.”
The words rang around the room, seeping into the walls.
“I’ve always hated my life,” she said, sitting a little straighter. “I’ve taken the opposite path from you, Hallie. You were always about making your own mark in the world, living your life as you saw fit, exploring who you are. I only wanted to be a part of the Thorne legacy. I wanted to become someone Mom and Dad would be proud of. But on my way to it, I forgot to figure out who I really was.”
She didn’t look at any of us but continued talking as if in some sort of a trance.
“I went to med school because it looked great on paper. I dated Craig because the story was amazing—childhood sweethearts, ski vacations together from age nine. I stuck around Mom and Dad, even though I missed the East Coast every day. I wanted to be the perfect one. The good one. And I paid a terrible price for it. But I think, out of all the damage I’ve done…” She licked her lips, her eyes glittering unshed tears. “The most awful was that somewhere along the way, I became a horrible person. A person who didn’t care about anything but her image. A monster that fed on its own misery. I’m really sorry, Hallie. You didn’t deserve this. Not the bad treatment, or my doubt, or my attitude. I’d been horrible to you in the past, for no other reason than wanting to be the best and hating the competition. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I let my insecurities ruin everything.”