"I see it clearly now. Sticking with you means I'll never have a decent life. From this day forward, you're not my mother. I'm going to find my dad!"
I laughed out loud.
I bit down hard on my lip, forcing the tidal wave of emotion back down, and rose to my feet. I walked over to him.
Then I slapped him across the face.
"That one's for being a disloyal, ungrateful son."
A second slap.
"That one's for growing up on my blood and sweat, then turning out worse than a dog I could've raised."
A third slap—
It never landed. He seized my wrist mid-swing.
He shoved me backward. I heard the crack before I felt it, a clean snap in my ankle.
I looked up at my son's cold, indifferent face and let out a bitter laugh.
If he thought I wasn't good enough, he could go find whoever was. His precious father was probably counting on Dylan to fund his retirement right about now.
I turned and gave Muriel a slow once-over.
And this girlfriend of his? Besides bleeding him dry, I couldn't imagine what else she was good for.
My son. Six years out of college. Hadn't held down a real job for a single day.
Three selfish idiots in one pile. Didn't take much imagination to picture how that circus would end.
The son I'd poured my life into raising was a total loss.
It stung. God, it stung. But cutting my losses now mattered more.
I wiped the tears from my face in one clean motion, then lowered my head and dialed my lawyer.
"I want to legally sever my relationship with Dylan Lawson. Effective immediately."
