Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
They slowly approached, surrounding the bed and the two of us like we were suspicious packages left at the airport—
No. I saw the looks on their faces. All of their suspicions are for me.
“Yeah, we got it...” Alex said slowly. “But it didn’t make any sense...”
I cocked a brow. “What didn’t make sense? They had a carnival at school for student appreciation day, and the little lady here overdid it on the cotton candy, funnel cake, and lollipops.”
Micah bit off a swear as Lily ducked her head under the covers. “Overdid it? How does that happen?” They were still talking much louder than they needed to. “Why weren’t those idiots watching her? Who lets a six-year-old eat that much sugar unchecked!”
I shrugged. “Lily puked on her teacher’s shoes, so I’m sure he learned his lesson. Anyway, why are you all here? I also said in the message that I’d bring her home and take care of her.” I set down the broth and picked up the bag at my feet. “The pharmacist said this is a really good anti-nausea medicine, and it’s safe for kids.
“Lily took some an hour ago, but she said if she’s not better by the afternoon, to give her another dose. Or if she’s not better by tomorrow, to call her doctor. But I don’t think that will be necessary,” I said to their unsettling, wide-eyed stares. “She’s already feeling much better, right, Nariboo?”
A giggle floated out of the sheets. “No!”
I gasped. “Huh? No? But you know what happens to little girls who are sick?” I dove under the covers. “They get their toes eaten!”
Nari flipped out, kicking and squealing when I grabbed her foot, nibbling on her toes.
Hands suddenly grabbed and pulled me out. The world spun as I was tossed over Micah’s shoulder and carried out.
“Lilybug, finish your soup,” Alex called over his shoulder—standing side by side with Rhodes and Micah. “Daddies will be back in a bit to check on you.”
“Okay,” she chirped, not in the least bit concerned that her auntie was in for it.
“Guys? Micah!” I wiggled in his hold. “Okay, short people don’t like to be picked up! It’s one of our top five fears and dislikes!”
“Want to know what my top fear and dislike is?” Micah plopped me on my feet. In a blink he had me up against the wall, slamming his hands on either side of my face.
Before I could get a word out, Rhodes and Alex were right there—boxing me in on the left and right.
I wasn’t going anywhere.
“My worst fear is that my twisted and duplicitous wife will con our daughter into believing she’s the cool, fun parent, all so she can get full custody of her in the divorce—but plot twist that everyone saw coming—she only wants to use our child to drain us of every cent she can get in child support.”
My eyes bugged. “Child support? Divorce?! What the hell are you talking about?”
“What the hell are you talking about!” Micah roared, blowing me back. “Enough with the doe-eyed, innocent act, Sue! For once, fucking enough!”
I shrunk back, eyes huge in face of his fury. My heart pounded a mile a minute, racing faster than the chill crawling up my spine—because I knew this rage.
This was the rage born from being played and manipulated by an evil, gleeful psycho who got off on fucking with your life, and making you look like the crazy one. It was the kind of rage that filled me just before the thought entered my mind that I could do it.
I could kill my sister, and not feel an ounce of guilt over it.
“Okay, okay, just slow down,” I breathed, putting my hands up in surrender. “Listen, I know I’ve done awful things to you. I’ve lied, I’ve messed you around, I blamed you for all of it, and I never took responsibility. Whatever resentment you have toward me, I’ve earned it.”
Rhodes’s lips peeled back from his teeth. “Oh, nice. We get Insincere Apologies and Fake Accountability Sue today. You haven’t brought this personality out in a while.”
I weathered his sarcasm with a hard face. “No, Rhodes. I’m not being insincere. I’m not being fake. This is the one hundred percent truth: I don’t want a divorce.”
Of course I didn’t want a fucking divorce! I can’t divorce men I’m not married to, and widowed men don’t get divorced in the first place!
“And I’m not going to fight you for custody, or demand child support, or anything like that,” I heard myself say. “I’ve got more than a sense that Soo Min Kim hasn’t been the world’s greatest mother.”
The three of them exchanged looks, trading disbelieving expressions.
“My point being,” I continued, “that if you’ve been her primary caregivers all this time, then you’re the ones who know what’s best for her. I’m not going to even think about getting in the way.”