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Laughing lightly, I sent up a silent prayer, thanking God that Nyx didn’t keep questioning me. I wasn’t ready for where opening up that can of worms would lead.

Chapter Seven

NYX

There were good days, bad days, and days that I despised with every fiber of my being. Today was one of the days I despised.

Standing outside of my parents’ home, I hesitated before letting myself inside. I loved my mom and dad with all of my heart. But ever since I was a child, we’d had an issue with communication. At least my mother and I did.

That problem only increased as I grew into an adult. Somehow, she was still unable to accept that although I was her child, I was not a child. Something that my recent turn of events in life had only fanned flames on.

Once a month, I was forced to sit and listen to her lecture me about the bad decisions I already stressed over daily. But, it couldn’t be helped. I was in a bind and needed their assistance. Lectures, unfortunately, came with the territory.

Releasing a heavy sigh, I headed inside. I wasn’t at all surprised to see my parents perched on the couch, presenting the united front they’d perfected over the years. My father was a lot more lax when my mother wasn’t around, but when she was, he backed her up in any way he could.

Praying for the patience to deal with whatever she would throw my way, I plastered on a smile.

“Hey, you two.”

“Hey, sweetheart,” my dad replied softly, while my mother just stared.

“Have a seat, honey,” she said, gesturing towards the loveseat.

Sinking onto the worn furniture, I looked between them. “What’s going on?”

“Why didn’t you tell us about the deal you were offered?” She immediately jumped into the conversation. Her eyes were so tight it created a slew of wrinkles in the middle of her forehead.

I hated that part of them agreeing to help me with my legal issues came with the condition that they’d be heavily involved in everything.

“Because I’m not taking it,” I replied just as swiftly.

“Nyx,” this time it was my father who spoke. “This whole thing could be behind you. You’ll be free from it and⁠—”

“I’m not accepting guilt for something we all know didn’t happen,” I interrupted hotly, feeling my blood pressure rising. “Nina’s lying. They both are.”

“We know that,” my mom sighed, placing her hand over my dad’s. “But the rest of the world doesn’t, and this looks bad. It doesn’t matter what these people think about you, honey. Your well-being is what’s important.”

“Mom,” my voice cracked as I addressed her. “You’re not serious? These people are trying to ruin my life, and you want me to just roll over and give them what they want?”

“I want you to secure a future for yourself, honey. One that doesn’t come with jail time. That’s all. Pleading guilty and serving probation is a hell of a lot better than the alternative.”

“Right. Except I’ll be a walking red flag wherever I go, thanks to my criminal record. Or did we forget about that?”

“I’d rather you pick the lesser of the two evils,” my dad suggested.

“I’d rather not have to deal with any of this at all.”

“Then maybe you should have picked a better man,” my mom snapped, wagging a gnarled finger at me. “As soon as you brought that boy around here, I told you he was no good. Did you listen?”

My eyes widened. “So he lied and lived a double life, but somehow this is my fault?”

“His wrongs are not your fault, but you’re not innocent, Nyx. Your decisions landed you here. No one picked you at random and decided they were going to ruin your life. You went to that man’s house; you showed your ass, and now we’re all paying the price for it. Every month, your father and I⁠—”

“You know what?” I interrupted, laughing to keep from crying. “I’m so sorry that I somehow managed to bring all of this drama to your doorstep. I promise you don’t have to worry about being involved in what I have going on any further.”

“That’s not what we’re saying, and you know it. That man and his wife are living their best lives and left you to pick up the pieces of letting your anger get the best of you. All we want is a chance for you to get back to living life the way you want to. The way you were meant to. Not with all of this stress on your shoulders. Nyx, you were⁠—”

“Can we not talk about the past, please?” Blinking rapidly, I fought hard against the tears attempting to push their way through. “All I want to know is if you two could help with my lawyer fees this month? Work covered rent and other bills. I have a majority of the money; I just came up short.”