Cassandra
Renan jumped at the noise I made, leaping off the couch and dumping the girl onto the floor. I had to fight hard not to laugh. If someone had filmed that, it would've gone viral — the greatest blooper of the century. I felt bad for the girl, but inside I was cackling like a hyena. Oh, I absolutely laughed. The poor thing fell off the couch — or rather, was launched off it — and landed flat on her back with her legs in the air, completely bewildered.
My dear ex-fiance Renan came over trying to talk, but I just slipped off my engagement ring, left it on the side table by the door, pivoted on my heels, and walked out without a single word. He didn't follow — he was completely naked. I imagined he went to get dressed and maybe helped the girl who was still lying on the living room floor, no doubt confused out of her mind.
I got to the bus stop, and luckily the bus was already pulling up, which bought me extra time in case he tried to come after me.
My only concern now was my job. I hadn't been working there very long and didn't have much experience. I needed to work — without a paycheck, I had nothing. My life was already chaos while employed; I couldn't imagine what it would look like without a job.
My goal was to save enough money to move out of my mother's house and stop supporting her. Sure, I'd promised my father I'd take care of her, but bankrolling her and my brother was too much. Living on my own, I could still visit and be around them while keeping my personal space — space that they constantly invaded.
I got home after about forty minutes on the bus. During the ride, I'd updated my resume and started sending it out to agencies. The second I landed another job, I was out of that company run by that spoiled, cheating playboy.
The moment I walked in, my mother hit me with that signature look — the one that said she already assumed I'd done something wrong. When it came to me, that look was always there.
"Good evening," I said.
"What are you doing home at this hour?" Beth snapped. "Weren't you supposed to be sleeping at your fiance's place? The way things are going, some other woman's gonna snatch him up and you'll be left sucking your thumb."
"Too late," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Someone already did."
"What are you talking about, girl?" That same tone of anger and disbelief, always.
"I went over there and found Renan screwing some girl in the living room."
"And you just came home?" Beth exploded. "Instead of kicking the tramp out and showing him that he's yours and he has an owner? Have you lost your mind, Cassandra?"
She said it in pure disbelief and fury while I let out a bitter laugh.
I was exhausted. Wiped out. The beating that morning had been the last straw, and this conversation was making everything spill over at once. Forgive me, Dad, but I was about to blow up and abandon everything.
"The woman" — I emphasized the word woman, because there was no reason to disrespect her — "didn't betray me. He did. So I've got nothing to settle with her, and I'm certainly not going to 'kick her out'" — I made air quotes — "of a place that doesn't belong to me. As for him, our relationship is more than over."
I barely finished the sentence before pain exploded across my face. A slap, so fast I didn't see it coming.
"Don't you dare break up with him, Cassandra," Beth snarled. "I set up this husband for you because I know you'll never amount to anything on your own or find a decent man. At least marrying a rich one might get you somewhere."
"It's really hard to get anywhere," I shot back, "when my own family is hanging off me, dragging me down nonstop."
She raised her hand to hit me again, but this time I was faster.
I caught her wrist in midair and squeezed hard.
I saw the shock in her eyes. This was the first time in my entire life I'd stood up to her, and it was long overdue. I couldn't let my promise keep me trapped in this hell forever.
"Enough, Elisabeth," I said. "I'm tired. I let all this crap go on for way too long, but starting today, you don't manipulate me anymore. And you don't lay a hand on me again."
"Starting today, if you raise your hand to me one more time, I'll forget every promise I made to my father. I'll forget you're my mother. And I'll pay back every single thing you've put me through."
"How dare you, you little wretch?" Beth hissed. "I'm your mother."
"And do you actually remember that?" I fired back. "Or are you just pulling that card now because it's convenient?"
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" Jhosh stormed in yelling like a maniac, wedging himself between us, already siding with the one who'd always spoiled him.
"Your sister is threatening me," Beth cried, "and on top of that, she broke off the engagement. How are we supposed to live, Jhosh, if this idiot can't even manage to get married? She's probably going to get fired now too, after dumping Renan."
"I don't know what you did," Jhosh said, turning to me, "but you're going back there and begging your fiance for forgiveness. Tell him you do want to marry him."
I laughed out loud.
"Oh, that's rich. Now you think you can boss me around too? Get a grip, kid. I've put up with more than enough — not just from her, but from you too, you spoiled little brat."
My brother was seventeen, but he'd never worked or done a single thing with his life except mooch off my father and then off me. A certified deadbeat and a user, just like our mother.
"Enough, Cassandra," Beth commanded. "Go to your room right now and think about the nonsense you're spewing and the mess you've made. Tomorrow morning you'd better be ready early. I'm going to ask Renan to come have breakfast with us so we can sort things out and you can apologize to him."
"Apologize to him?" I said.
I said it laughing, with every ounce of cynicism and contempt I could muster.
"I'm going to do that right now."
I laughed again, glaring at both of them.
"Don't hold your breath."
I started to walk away, then stopped and turned back.
"That's never going to happen, Elisabeth. NEVER. You hear me? Was I clear enough?"
"I'm done. Done being treated like trash. Done working just so you two can live comfortably while I survive on the scraps of my own paycheck. Dad, forgive me for breaking my promise — but I'm done with this hell."
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