Chapter 9 - Severing the Ties
The next evening, I drove to my parents' house.
The driveway was empty, save for my mother's old sedan.
I knocked once and let myself in.
My mother was sitting at the kitchen table, staring blankly at a pile of past-due bills.
Allison was on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, aggressively texting on her phone.
They both looked up when I entered.
"Emily!" my mother gasped, standing up eagerly.
"Did you come to help us? Did you get your job back?"
"I am the new Vice President of Regional Operations," I confirmed, my voice entirely devoid of warmth.
Allison scoffed loudly from the living room.
"Good for you. I am completely blacklisted in the industry because of your stupid stunt at the party."
I walked over to the kitchen table and placed an envelope in front of my mother.
"What is this?" she asked, her hands shaking as she reached for it.
"It is a check for fifty thousand dollars," I stated.
"It will cover the money Marcus Thorne took back when his accounts were frozen."
My mother burst into tears, trying to reach out and hug me.
I stepped back, raising my hand to stop her.
"Do not touch me," I warned softly.
"I am paying off the debt you incurred when you sold my privacy and my career."
"But this is the absolute last time I will ever help either of you."
"You are my daughter!" she cried, clutching the check to her chest.
"A mother does not destroy her daughter to save herself," I replied, looking at Allison as well.
"And a sister does not try to steal a life she didn't earn."
"I am blocking both of your numbers, and if you ever come to my office, I will have you arrested for trespassing."
I turned and walked out of the house, ignoring their panicked apologies.
May you like
The toxic weight I had carried for years was finally lifted.
I got into my car and drove away without looking back in the rearview mirror.
