"True colors? Are you blind, Max? Can’t you see who the real evil person is in this room? Or do you get along because you’re both evil?" I mumbled.
"Enough, Carrie! Don’t force me to punish you!" Max yelled.
"I’m not the one causing trouble here, Max. Lalaina is the real destroyer—a homewrecker. But you just let her ruin our family! Don’t worry. I’m letting you be with her, and I don’t care what you two do anymore!"
Slowly, I began to stand and make my exit, but Max grabbed my arm again.
"You can’t leave without apologizing to Lalaina!" he commanded.
I couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh. "No way! I would never apologize. I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just giving her a taste of her own medicine!" I insisted.
Suddenly, Max yanked me forward and pushed me down in front of Lalaina. He forced me to kneel, and I stumbled to the ground.
"Do it now! Don’t make me lose my patience!" he grunted, forcefully yanking me down.
I looked up at Lalaina, who was grinning. "Apologize to me, Carrie." She demanded.
"You don't deserve my apology, Lalaina. I would never apologize to a snake like you!" I spat, the words burning my throat.
Their faces were a mix of disbelief and anger. They could try to force an apology out of me, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
Max, ever the hothead, was about to slap me again, but Lalaina stopped him. "I'll let this slide, Max. I think we need to give her time to grieve and reflect on what she did to Stacey." Her voice was laced with a fake sadness that made my stomach churn.
Max furrowed his brow. "No, she hurt you, and I won't let her do to you what she did to Stacey."
"It's okay, Max. I know you want to protect me, but I'll be fine. I just don't understand why Carrie treats me like I'm not her sister." Carrie's voice cracked, and she looked at Max with a watery-eyed, dramatic plea.
I couldn't help but clap internally at her performance. It was so convincing, so believable. All this time, she'd been putting on a show, and Maximus, my husband, had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
Max wiped away a tear, then turned to me, his eyes filled with a righteous fury. "You're a monster, Carrie. You hurt my daughter, and now you hurt Lalaina? I won't forgive you!"
Monster? He called me a monster after I showed him kindness despite his constant abuse.