Chapter 33

Hannah

My mom is many things, but appropriate isn’t one of them. She can barely stand and is laughing in that hiccup way I remember from my childhood. I’m so embarrassed. I don’t even dare to look at Tobias but keep my eyes on the table while blood gushes into my ears.

I might just be eighteen, but my mom is why I was forced to grow up way too young.

I matured because I had to cook her meals and take care of the dishes she left everywhere in the house. My mom would party, and I slept alone in my bed, waking to her trying to sneak into the house in the morning but failing because she was drunk.

And then it would start, her arguing with my dad. He was always drunk, but unlike he didn’t leave the house-he was too busy lying dead on the couch.

my mom,

They spent more time yelling at each other than asking me how I was and how school was going…

So yeah, my parents shouldn’t even be called parents. They let me down so often when I was young that I can’t remember ever coming home and thinking, “I missed my mom and dad.” Which is why I’m close to tears right now. I thought my mom was gone from my life, but here she is, ruining my date with Tobias. How wonderful. Will I ever get rid of her?

I love my parents, but good lord, they are embarrassing…

“Mrs. Darling, how about you sit down?”

I look up to find Tobias guiding my mom to a chair by the table next to ours. He has a focused expression and a well-practiced smile on his lips. The one he uses for business, I’ve realized. “I don’t want to sit on this chair…” my mom pouts and crosses her arms over her chest. It’s an odd feeling watching your parent act like a child. I’ve seen it many times before, but this is the first time I see the reaction of a third party seeing my mom like this.

Tobias silently glances at me, and I wonder what he is thinking. Is he feeling sorry for me?

I can’t help the anxious feeling spreading within me. Even though I don’t like how my mom is acting, I still don’t want to hear Tobias say anything bad about her. Because as screwed up as it is, I still love her-she is my flesh and blood, so how could I not?

I disappear into my own world, blinking when Tobias grabs my hands to help me up from the

chair.

“Are we going somewhere?” I ask.

“I called my driver and a butler. Your mother will be taken to one of my hotels if they can’t figure out where she is staying. As for you and me, I think it’s time to leave.”

romance? Or does he

follow him out of the restaurant, past waitresses wishing

is going on inside

made fun of my mom. If he says something along the terms of, “Wow, she for sure was drunk…” I will cry. It might be true, but… I

be worse. We get into a cab, and the ride home is long and

fit

around while holding up the door. I don’t think he heard what I said, and he tilts his head, looking surprised.

“You have everything. A mansion, a nice family, brothers, and a career-you’re successful, and I’m

I walk in, scowling. “You’re just saying that because

thinking about it in the

but I can’t help myself. My head is spinning. Tobias and I come from

I will always be the girl from the slum with two alcoholic parents. I’m dirt, while Tobias is perfect

much, but what if this is a mistake? What if we are just

work-”

longer calm, but his eyes are darkened with

at him, face wet with tears. Tobias’s nostrils are flaring, and he is breathing hard, but so am I. We

when I say nothing, Tobias angrily hangs off his suit where

meant for each other, I can

need.”

you

is a dark gleam in his eye. I’m not certain whether to be afraid or intrigued, but his tone. pushes me toward

for me to

I can respond and ask Tobias what he means, he advances on me. This tall, hulking man wearing only a white shirt

Shit

reaches me. His hands grip my shoulders, slides further down to my

is no

shock seeps through me. My heart is drumming in my ears, and I don’t know what

almost blonde hair. I don’t know what color it is, but it doesn’t matter. It’s soft and

room.

Mine drop on the floor too, but I’m barely able to register the change. I’m too busy kissing him back, so invested in him that it comes as

from his lips. “The

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