Chapter 200

A Terrible Mother

I stop breathing. I stop feeling.

It all comes crashing back down when I inhale.

Panic rushes through me. I fumble, my movement stiff and yet fast. I wipe my mouth, adjusting the hem of my nightgown while lifting my strap back to my shoulder.

The room feels like it's closing in, suffocating, too bright, too loud.

My mother starts screaming. Her purse swings through the air, colliding with Jake's bare shoulder.

"Get off my daughter, you sick pervert!" she shrieks, hitting him again, her face red with

rage.

Jake just takes the hit, steps back and keeps his eyes on her.

She only gets closer to him, hitting him over and over again. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Stop!" I cry, jumping off the counter and raising my hands as if I can physically push back her fury.

My voice cracks, but she doesn't stop, doesn't even hear me. She's too far gone, her wide,

frantic eyes darting between me and Jake like she's witnessing a nightmare.

"I need to call the cops," she gasps, her fingers scrambling for her phone. "This is disgusting. He needs to be arrested!"

"No!" The desperation in my voice is raw. "I'm fine. There's no need for that." Her gaze whips back to me, disbelief stretching her features.

"You think this is okay?" she spits.

I shrug. "I wanted this."

"That man is manipulating you, using you." Her voice wavers, but the anger doesn't fade.

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A Tarde Mother

can't stand the emotions

cold and sharp. "You don't get to pretend to care now, after

She flinches.

A selfish woman."

can stop them, before I can swallow them down

hit her right across the face. "I

tears streaming down my face. "I lost

stares at me, hardening her expression to mask her

needed you for

"I needed time-"

couldn't even look me in the eye, telling me

to hit her across the face. "I don't remember saying

of-"

you use your alcoholism as an

been here. He's been constant. You? You only show up when it's convenient, when it makes you feel better

would be fine if he cared for you as a father figure,

stairs, and then Zaid is there, his face tight. His gaze flickers between us, taking in

toward me, taking my hand in his. I breathe

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A Terrible Mother

going on?" he asks, his voice

my lips tother. "Um. She

finishes for me. "I came here after getting calls and emails from your school about your teacher. I came here to make sure you were okay and I catch her fucking my

she's only using that word to get to me.

ever thought of him as a

moves. He stands between

narrow. "You knew

flinch, his eyes

you think this is

even look at her, just

mean it's bad."

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