By the time I left the office, the sun was setting, casting long, dark shadows across the parking lot. I touched my jaw. It still throbbed, but the pain felt distant now. It was fuel.
I wasn’t just going to leave them. I was going to detonate their world.
For the next three weeks, I played the part of the beaten dog.
I transferred small amounts of money to them—just enough to keep them from calling my boss, but not enough to satisfy them. I let them insult me. I let Melissa wave her new Prada bag in my face and say, “This is what your money is for, sweetie. Making the family look good.”
I let my dad pat my shoulder hard enough to bruise and whisper, “Better get used to it, parasite. This is your rent for breathing our air.”
I ate my dinner in silence, nodding when they berated me, looking at the floor when they laughed. They thought I had broken. They thought they had won. Their confidence swelled like a balloon, making them reckless.
It all culminated in The Night.
There were two events happening simultaneously.
First, Melissa had finally secured what she called her “Golden Ticket”—an invitation to the exclusive Vogue Nova launch party downtown. She had been bragging about it for months, claiming she was a shoo-in for a modeling contract if she just showed up.
Second, my parents were hosting the annual dinner for the regional Business Association at the Hayes-Barton Country Club. This was their crowning glory. My father was gunning for a seat on the board, and my mother was desperate to prove that the rumors of their financial instability were false.
They had spent thousands on this dinner. Tables of crystal, imported wine, a guest list that included every power player in the city.
The morning of the dinner, I stood in front of the mirror. The bruising on my face had faded to a sickly yellow, and I had opted not to get a temporary tooth yet. I wanted the gap to be visible.
I put on a black dress. Simple. Sharp. Elegant.
Downstairs, the house was a whirlwind of panic and perfume.
“You’re not invited,” my mom said as she adjusted her pearls, not even turning to look at me.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I replied, my voice smooth.
