CHAPTER 032: I was The Problem
At first, I’m just too stunned to say anything. It’s like my brain’s stalling, processing, until finally, I blurt out the only thing I can manage:
“Aren’t you supposed to be in jail?”
There’s this unbearable, casual calm in her voice. “I made bail,” she says, like she’s talking about a nail appointment. “I’m bipolar and off my meds. They can’t hold me.”
Oh, come on, I want to scream, but I swallow it down.” don’t know what magic trick you pulled to get out, but don’t call this number again. I’m getting a restraining order.”
“Sweetheart, you can do whatever you want. But for now, just listen to me. Please?”
A request from her–a polite one at that–throws me for a second. Against my better judgment, I don’t hang up. My pulse is pounding. She takes my silence as permission.
“I wanted to apologize, Julie,” she says. “For being… difficult. For pushing you. You know, I’ve got a
condition.”
It’s ridiculous. The laugh that escapes me is hard and hollow, almost a bark. “Oh, is that your excuse for trying to throw me off a bridge?”
A pause. And then, “I wasn’t actually going to do it, Julie. I love you. You know that.”
I roll my eyes. “You’ve got thirty seconds,” I say. “Thirty seconds to summarize whatever it is you want before I hang up.”
She clears her throat. “Alright. It’s about Ryan. He’s–he’s falling apart.”
“Great. I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait-”
Before I can hit “end,” another voice cuts in. “Elaine, hang up the phone. Now.”
Every muscle in my body freezes. I know that voice: Adeline O’Brien, Ryan’s mother. Her tone is sharp and brittle, like she’s forcing herself to be polite, and it sets my teeth on edge. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I haven’t heard Adeline’s voice in a year she’s been traveling around the world with her husband, Darius, and honestly, that’s one blessing I was grateful for.
Then I hear him–Ryan. If I wasn’t sure about Adeline before, Ryan’s words confirm it. “Mom? When did you come in?”
Adeline doesn’t waste time in replying. “Let’s skip the formalities,” she says. “Tell your mother–in–law to hang up that phone right now. We have a lot of things to discuss.”
“I’m talking to my daughter,” my mother says. “I’ll hang up when I’m done talking.”
I hear Ryan in the background again, confused. “Mom, Is there a problem? Did something happen to Dad?”
Adeline laughs. “The only thing wrong with this family is you–and that whore of a wife you have.”
I freeze. Did she actually just-
CHAPTER 032:1 was The Problem
+25 BONUS
But before I can even react, my mother’s voice rises, furious. “Excuse me? Did you just call my daughter a
whore?”
It’s like I can picture the scene unfolding, my mother’s face twisted in anger, not because she likes me but because she despises not being the biggest bully in a room. I imagine Adeline’s calm, impassive face, a look of unfeeling disdain. She’d always had the ability to look down at you without lifting more than one
or two face muscles.
“Yes, I did,” Adeline fires back. “Your family is the worst mistake my son ever made.”
Ryan tries to interrupt, “Mom-” but she cuts him off.
“Don’t ‘Mom‘ me,” she says. “I told you from the very first day you brought a pauper into this house that I didn’t approve of the union. But now look what you’ve done. Letting them bring their ghetto ways into my family, into my company–our name. Have you even read the news? She filed for divorce on grounds of adultery? It’s a disgrace!”
For a moment, there’s nothing but silence, and I can practically see Ryan shrinking, bending under the weight of her words.
Finally, he says, “Yes, Mom, I saw the news. And it’s true. She served me divorce papers… but it was a misunderstanding. We’re trying to work things out. Julie will be back in no time.”
“No,” Adeline says. “You will do no such thing. She is not coming back into this family.”
“Mom, that’s my wife-
“I don’t care!” she barks. “You made this mess, and I’m here to clean it up, like always. So don’t even think about trying to make any moves on your own. First order of business: get that secretary of yours out of your house.”
That’s when, out of nowhere, Emily’s voice comes in. “Excuse me? I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yes, you are,” Adeline says.
“I’m pregnant with his child,” Emily says, the words landing like a bombshell.
The line falls silent. It’s like all the air’s been sucked out of the room. I don’t even wait to hear the aftermath. My hands shake as I press End on the call.
Without thinking, I grab my things, ignoring Beth’s surprised call from across the room.
“Hey! Where are you going?”
I turn, barely aware of what I’m saying. “I’m so sorry. I have to go. It’s… it’s an emergency.”
I’m half–walking, half–limping toward the exit, every step a painful reminder of Beth’s relentless training session. My legs ache, my muscles scream, but I push through, my mind spinning. I just need to get out of here.
Near the gym’s entrance, I spot Luke. He’s at the weights, looking focused and calm in a way that only makes me feel more rattled. When he spots me, his brows knit together, and he drops the weights, jogging over.
“Are you okay? Is something wrong?”
CHAPTER 032: I was The Problem
I try to get the words out, but what I end up saying is, “We need to leave.”
His eyes search mine for a moment, something tender in his expression, before he gives a quiet nod Can you walk?”
I nod, even as my body threatens to crumple beneath me, but the limp is impossible to hide. Pain surges up my leg with each step, and before I can object, Luke sweeps me up into his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck, my head resting on his chest, and I can feel the steady beat of his heart
At first, I don’t know what to say. There’s so much–too much–to explain. But as he carries me to the car, I just close my eyes, letting myself sink into the solid warmth of him, feeling safe for the first time in what feels like years.
~~~
We’ve been driving in silence for some minutes now. Only the steady hum of the engine and the flicker of passing streetlights keep us company. Luke keeps glancing over, like he’s dying to ask, and finally, he just goes for it.
“Are you going to tell me what happened or not?”
I stare out the window, fingers curling into my lap. “My mother,” I say, “She made baill.”
“What?” He turns to me. “How?”
“It’s Ryan, probably,” I mutter, voice bittet. “They said she’s bipolar. That she was off her meds that day. It was all a misunderstanding or something.” I let out a harsh laugh. “I want to call bullshit, but it kind of makes sense. Looking back, all those things she did when I was growing up–it’s like it all has an answer now. All those awful things? She’s just sick.”
Luke’s jaw clenches, and I can see that cold, protective fire light up in his eyes. “We have to send her back.”
I shake my head. “I don’t care anymore, Luke.”
“Yes, you do. You care, Julie. You can’t just pretend like it’s fine. She’s not to be trusted.”
“I’ll get a restraining order. Isn’t that enough?” I try to sound resolute, but even to my own ears, it’s hollow.
“No. It’s not enough. She needs to be jailed-”
My head is pounding, each word he says only aggravating the rage that’s rising inside me. I don’t want to hear it, not any of it. Before I even realize what I’m doing, I cut him off.
“I don’t care about Elaine fucking Jenkins anymore, alright? She can rot at the bottom of hell for all I care.” I swallow. “Emily is pregnant.”
Silence. The car feels like it’s shrinking. I don’t even have to look at him to know his mouth is slightly open, his eyes wide.
“What?”
shake my head, my voice ragged. “Emily is pregnant with Ryan’s child, Luke. Do you know what that means?” I pause. “It means I was the problem all along“
