I gripped my napkin beneath the table, trying to suppress the hot flare of anger in my chest. “I didn’t have time, Mother. I had to get Lily ready.”
“Chloe married a millionaire CEO today,” my mother continued, ignoring my excuse, her eyes gleaming with toxic pride as she looked across the lawn at Chloe’s new husband, Mark. “Mark is a visionary. He’s taking his company public next year. And what are you? You’re just a shameful single mother, leeching off the meager salary of whatever pathetic job you have now. You only bring embarrassment to this family.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I had spent five years building a thick skin against her cruelty, but it still stung.
“I only came because Chloe invited me,” I replied softly, keeping my voice level.
“She invited you out of pity,” my mother sneered, smoothing the expensive silk of her dress. “And because it would look bad if her own sister boycotted the wedding. Do us all a favor. Keep your mouth shut, stay in this corner, and keep your bastard child away from the cameras. We don’t want Mark’s wealthy colleagues thinking we associate with trash.”
She turned on her heel and glided back toward the brightly lit center of the party, her fake, radiant smile instantly returning as she greeted a passing guest.
I let out a shaky breath and slipped my phone out of my small clutch. My hands were trembling slightly as I opened my encrypted messaging app.
To: Alexander.
“Are you almost here? They are worse than you thought. I’m not sure how much longer I can take this.”
I watched the message turn to ‘Delivered’ and slipped the phone back into my purse. I just had to hold on a little longer.
