Chapter 4

4: 4

4. The slap cracked through the room, clean and loud.

Shanna froze where she stood.

One hand went to her cheek, her eyes stretched wide as she stared at me.

“You... you dared to hit me?”

Thomas lost it. He shot to his feet and yelled at me.

“Sis, how could you raise a hand to Shanna?!”

I shook out my wrist and answered.

“That slap was to teach her to watch her mouth.”

“Say one more word and see what happens.”

Shanna glared at me, shaking with rage.

Then she lunged, grabbing a fistful of my hair, yanking and screaming.

“You shameless slut!”

“Everybody knows what you did to get where you are at that company!”

“What, nobody's allowed to say it now?”

I tried to fight her off. Then Shanna screamed out.

“Thomas, what are you standing there for? Get over here and help me!”

I didn't think Thomas would actually do it.

But he was strong. He seized my arms and wouldn't let go.

Once Shanna saw I couldn't break free, her face twisted.

“Go on, hit me! Why'd you stop?!”

And she slapped me right back.

Then again.

Hitting me and taunting me both at once. “Hit me back if you've got the guts!”

“Don't forget, Thomas isn't even blood-related to you.”

“Between you and me, who do you think he'll pick?”

She leaned in close, her voice thick with triumph.

“No, wait, even if you are blood-related to Mom and Dad.”

“They never took your side either.”

I snapped my head down and bit into Thomas's hand.

He shrieked and let go on the spot.

I took the opening, clamped my hand around Shanna's throat, and pinned her to the wall.

My eyes burning red, I roared.

“Maybe I should just tear that mouth off your face.”

“Save everyone the trouble you cause!”

Her face went red under my grip, and just as she was about to choke.

Pain exploded at the back of my skull.

After the dull thud came the sound of a glass bottle shattering.

My hand fell away, and I touched my head.

Sticky.

I looked at my hand. It was covered in blood.

Shards littered the floor at my feet.

Thomas was still holding the base of the vase, all that was left of it, jabbing it at me as he cursed.

“You crazy woman!”

“Mom and Dad don't like you, and you've got no one to blame but yourself!”

My ears were ringing.

My eyelids started to drop.

And my mind blurred, out of my control.

I wanted to call the police.

My hand found my pocket, but I didn't even have the strength to pull out my phone.

I stumbled toward the door.

And then everything went dark.

When I woke again, I was lying in a hospital.

No one around.

The curtains were drawn. I couldn't tell if it was day or night.

My phone chimed once.

I forced my arm out to reach it and saw a text from my best friend.

Several photos.

And one more thing, a paternity test report.

I opened the photos, and my fingers went stiff.

I stared at them for a long time, something rearranging itself in my head.

After I texted her back, I set the phone down.

The door to the room swung open.

My mother came in.

Seeing I was awake, she hurried over, fussing.

“Sweetie, you're finally awake.”

“When I heard you were in the hospital, it scared me half to death!”

I looked at the face in front of me.

Familiar and a stranger both.

Flat, no expression, I asked her, “Why didn't you ever tell Thomas and them the truth?”

My mother hesitated.

“I... I just haven't found the right time.”

I nodded.

“Fine. If you won't say it, I will.”

Her face changed at that, and she cut in quickly.

“Sweetie, don't be so stubborn.”

“Some things aren't as simple as you think.”

I gave a small hum and let out a bitter laugh.

Then I said, off-hand, “They really aren't simple at all.”

Then my eyes dropped back to the phone screen.

“After all, Thomas is your own flesh and blood too. Just fathered by another man.”

“Right?”