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“They came to support me,” she says coolly. “Now, can we move on to the real issue like why you’re stalking me and lurking around my house?”
“If you’d bothered to message me back, I wouldn’t have had to resort to this.”
My whole body is taut with rage. I’m more than ready to knock his teeth out from just that statement.
I take a half-step forward, but Jamie puts his hand on my arm and shakes his head slightly.
I force myself to take deep breaths and get a hold on my temper.
You can finish the fight, but don’t you dare start it.
As furious as I am, I really do hope things don’t escalate beyond harsh words. I don’t ever want Avery to see me lose control like that. No matter what she’s said before, I know it will scare her out of this relationship.
“I did not make you do any of those things. That was your choice. So you can either tell me why you’ve decided to stalk me or leave. Take your pick.”
Her calm tone only makes him angrier.
“How dare you talk to me like that? I financed your entire lifestyle, and here you are, wasting my money on an academy you don’t belong in. Instead of raising my son with that money, you’re whoring yourself out online for that school in a pathetic attempt to prove you belong there. You are embarrassing me in front of my coworkers and tarnishing our family name. Someone needs to knock some sense into you.”
“I suggest you watch your tone,” I growl.
“Thank you, Wesley, but I can handle myself.” She flashes me a smile then turns back to Kyle. “First things first. That money isn’t yours. According to the judge and both our attorneys, that money is mine and mine alone. You have absolutely no say in how I use it. As far as belonging goes? I decide that too. I belong wherever I say I belong. Again, not something you have any control over, and that goes for my online presence too. I can participate in what I want, where I want, and when I want. I’m not a doll you get to pick up and put down whenever you want, and you most definitely don’t get to throw a tantrum when someone else shows interest in me.
“You need to get it through your head that I don’t belong to you. We stopped being a family the first time you—and I’m using your words here—knocked some sense into me. I don’t have your name, and I sure as hell don’t want it. If my starting to do well for myself embarrasses you, that’s your problem. And if that embarrasses you, just imagine how much worse it will be when I start an entirely new channel detailing everything you put me through—with photographic evidence. I wonder how many of those coworkers and other contacts you have will stop talking to you altogether if I do that. And just so we’re clear, I will make that series if you continue to harass me.”
She takes a step away from him then turns abruptly back to face him. “I almost forgot, he’s my son and mine alone. You have no rights to him whatsoever. If you ever try to contact him, I will go straight to the IRS and the EPA and share all of those “business practices” you told me about when we were married. So unless the next sentence out of your mouth is ‘I’m sorry for being a dick and I’m never going to darken your doorstep again’, we have nothing more to say to each other.”
“You rancid bitch. No one speaks to me that way.”
He steps toward her and raises his hand to strike her. The next thing I know, I’ve got my hand around his wrist and I’m squeezing—hard.
“I believe the lady told you to leave. Don’t make her repeat herself, and if I ever see you try and lay a hand on her again, you will be dealing directly with me.”
Kyle squirms in my grasp and I let him go. I watch him for a few steps just to make sure this is actually over then turn away toward my family.
As soon as my back is turned, I feel a whoosh of air and feel something slam into me.
The last thing I register before I black out is Avery screaming.
38
AVERY
This is all my fault. I should have warned him when I saw Kyle turn back around. I should have remembered to tell them never to turn their back on him before we left the house.
If Wesley gets hurt, I’m to blame.
No, you most definitely are not. He’s the one who decided to hit you. He’s the one who waited until Wesley’s back was turned to attack him. And he’s definitely the one who started this mess by flying across the country to harass you.
That little voice inside my head is right for once. All I did was stand up for myself and protect my family.
Sure, I used some dirty tactics, but threatening to tell the truth to the world about an abuser is worlds apart from stalking someone and making them terrified to live their life.
None of that helps Wesley, though.
I race forward to try and pry them apart, but Phillip and Jamie grab my arms, holding me in place.
“Let me go,” I scream. “I need to help him.”
