Chapter 43

Bruce walked closer, a wicked smirk on his face as he greeted me with false pleasantries. “Well, well, look who decided to show up. How have you been, Coco?”

My jaw clenched as my anger simmered just below the surface. I had hoped to avoid

any unnecessary small talk, but I couldn’t ignore the taunts. “Cut the act, Bruce. You called me here, now state your demands,” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

Bruce’s smirk widened, and he leaned in closer, reveling in my discomfort. “I have to admit, I didn’t think you’d ever amount to anything. But seeing you on the news, winning that court case, made me realize you might have something to offer me,” he said, his eyes glinting with greed.

My blood ran cold at the mention of the court case. “And now you want my earnings?” I asked, not masking my irritation.

Bruce chuckled darkly, circling around me like a predator closing in on its prey. “Yes, Coco. I want a share of your winnings. You owe me after what you did,” he said, his words coming out in a hiss.

“You seem fine,” I said, looking him over. “Still dodging you daily showers, it seems.” Bruce chuckled. “I always did enjoy your humor, Coco.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Why not, Coco?” he persisted, his eyes darkening. “Hell, I don’t speak a lick of French, but damn are you as darling as the word suggests.”

“God!” I huffed and forced my hands to my sides, suppressing the need to strangle him. “What have you even been doing alll these years, Bruce? I mean, I besides extorting people.”

Bruce glanced around and shoved his hands in his pockets, “I’ve been trying to get back on track. Especially after you left home so suddenly. You really broke my heart, you know?”

“Didn’t know you owned one of those,” I muttered. “And you barely answered my question.”

His eyes narrowed. “If you’re wondering about your dear ‘ol stepmom, she’s doing

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Chapter 431

little shaken still

shook at the mention of my father. I had almost forgotten about Laura, although she wasn’t exactly

if they were

changed the place up quiet a bit. With your dad gone, she figured it

out his belongings, and likely my own, disturbed me. I had left so abruptly that I hadn’t had the time to really collect sentimental items. It could have been Bruce trying to rile me up, but it didn’t feel outside of Laura’s character

reached out after I

“After paying for all those

bad for you? Sorry you never applied

what you want, Coco. It doesn’t change the fact that you owe

owe you nothing, Bruce. You were the one who made my life a living hell, and I’m done being manipulated by

were the naive one, Coco. Thinking you could escape your past and start anew,”

not naive anymore, Bruce. I’ve grown since then, and I won’t

out here was starting to feel a little less sensical, but part of me wanted

vengeance.

Chapter 43

hadn’t won, what would his intentions have been then? He had been contacting me even before

everything you put me through?” I spat back, my anger bubbling to

“Oh, you owe me, Coco. That little knock to the head you gave me left some personal scars that need to be compensated

didn’t do anything that you didn’t deserve!” I snapped. “And it seems you lost a

against one of the storage units. My vision flashed white as my head hit the sheet siding of the

nostrils. “Still mouthing off I see.” His

miss me,” he whispered. “That little boyfriend of yours

stumbling backward. “I’d rather douse myself in fire

his shoulders hunched over. I took a

any money,” I stated. “So go crawl

Bruce’s eyes, and he lunged towards me, demanding, “Don’t make

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