Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
It was like she understood the words, but she couldn’t put them all together to make them make sense, because there was no way she was going on a date with Rick. She wasn’t going to say yes to any proposal. She definitely didn’t want to be with that slimeball. Who should not be anywhere near the White House.
“I’m not dating Rick, Mother. He’s going out with Clem.”
“No, he’s broken up with her.”
“He broke up with her? When?”
“I believe it was this morning.”
“This morning? While she’s rehabilitating from having an operation to remove a cancerous tumor?”
Was her mother serious?
What kind of an asshole did that?
“Yes, Lily. Why is it taking you so long to understand this? Rick has broken up with Clem. He needs someone stronger, more suitable. That is you. You are going on a date with him. When he proposes soon, you will accept. You will marry him, and you are going to become the First Lady of the United States.”
Wow, she hadn’t realized that her mother took drugs, and that she was now as high as a kite, because those delusions were something else.
Even if Rick wasn’t Clem’s ex-boyfriend, she still wouldn’t want to date him. Or become the freaking First Lady of the United States.
Her mother’s face was lit with avarice. “Your father was supposed to make a run for President. But then he got ill. It was so disappointing.”
Wow. Lily had known her parents hadn’t had a love match, but to hear her mother state her father’s illness and death as a disappointment because he had he couldn’t make a run for President . . . it just showed how much of a heartless bitch her mother could be.
“I’m not dating Rick, Mother. What would people think? What would Clem think?”
Lily wished she didn’t care about other people’s opinions, but she had this horrid need to please others. She also didn’t want to hurt Clem. Or have her sister hate her.
“It doesn’t matter what Clem thinks. This is happening.”
“Seriously? Just after he’s broken things off with her? She’s not going to believe that I want to date Rick.”
At least she hoped her sister wouldn’t believe that.
Desperation and worry made her heart beat faster and her stomach churn.
“Really, I don’t like this new argumentative side of you.” Her mother stared at her contemplatively. “I expect you to just do as I say.”
Sure. Right. That would be so much easier.
“I’m not going to do this, Mother. I’m not dating Rick.”
“You are dating Rick. You are going to marry Rick.”
“No!”
“He’s already told your sister that he’s dating you,” her mother said calmly.
How could she be so calm when she was hurting her own daughters like this?
“Then I’ll tell her the truth!”
“Oh, Lily, I didn’t think it would come to this. I thought you would obey me. But I can’t have you ruining my plans.”
Her mother picked up her phone and typed in something.
What was she doing?
And why was Lily standing there? She needed to leave . . . she had to go and explain to Clem what was going on. She turned and headed toward the door.
“She thinks you’ve been sleeping with him behind her back.”
Lily froze at the door. Those words stabbed her in the stomach. The pain was unreal and had her bending over and gasping for breath.
What . . . no! No, that couldn’t be right.
Her mother was lying to her.
She had to be, because if that was the truth . . . oh God.
“Clem . . . she wouldn’t think that.” Lily turned to her mother, aware that she must look as devastated as she felt.
“Of course she would, Lily. Because Rick just told her that.” Her mother held up her phone. “That was our plan if you didn’t do what we wanted.”
It was the truth, wasn’t it? Rick the Dick had done that. And her mother had told him to. Had planned this with him.
Lily was going to be sick.
Bending over, she vomited all over her mother’s pristine beige carpet.
“Lily, what a reaction. That is disgusting. What is wrong with you?”
What was wrong with her? What was wrong with her mother? Standing, she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth.
“I’m not doing it. I don’t care what you told Clem. And I don’t care what you want. What Rick wants. I’m not dating him or marrying him or betraying my sister. I’m leaving. Now.”
She turned and reached for the door handle.
“Lily, I didn’t want to have to do this.”
“Do what?”
“I really thought you would comply. You’re usually so obedient. Not sure why you think you get to do what you want now, but you don’t. Because you’re my daughter, my asset, and that means you do what I say.”
Shaking her head, Lily turned just as her mother lunged at her. Opening her mouth, she screamed as the older woman pinned her against the closed door.