“But you see,” she continued, stepping in uninvited, “he doesn’t trust you anymore. Not after what your father did. Honestly, Emerald, you should’ve told him about your father’s scam. Hiding things never ends well.”
I kept my back to her, folding another dress, forcing myself not to explode. She wanted a fight. I wouldn’t give her one.
Inside, though, my chest burned. My father? His sins had never been mine. I never cared about his mistakes. Why was I still being punished for them? Why did Nadine think she could dangle his shame in my face like this?
She came closer, her hands reaching for my clothes. “So you’re leaving?” She gave a laugh, pretending to sound kind. “That’s better. You really don’t have a place here anymore. Come, let me help you pack.”
“I don’t need your help,” I snapped, turning sharply. “I can handle this. Go away, Nadine. I know you’re faking every word.”
But she didn’t leave. She forced her way further into the room, touching things that weren’t hers. And then it happened—her arm brushed against the side table.
The vase toppled.
It crashed to the floor, shattering into jagged pieces. My eyes widened, my breath caught.