She’d handle Ruth just fine.
***
Less than two weeks later, Ruth was falling apart. She clung to her phone like it was a lifeline, laughing one minute, crying the next. She looked totally unhinged.
Another week passed, and she stopped showing up at the Carter house altogether. With her gone, I finally had some peace to study.
Then, the day of the college entrance exams arrived.
Ruth showed up at the Carter house, pale and gaunt, looking like she’d barely slept.
Softly, she said, “Suri, I came to see you off. Do your best today. As long as you do better than me, I’ll be happy for you. Oh, and don’t forget your admission ticket. If you lose it…”
Miriam let out a sudden scream, cutting Ruth off.
1/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 7
She had opened my pencil case–at Ruth’s suggestion–and found my exam admission ticket, shredded into tiny pieces.
Miriam’s face turned red with fury as she whipped around to glare at Ruth. “You vile woman! How could you do this? Just because you’re some mistress, you think you can push me around every day?”
That hit a nerve. Ruth’s eyes blazed as she stepped forward and slapped Miriam hard.
“You witch! Who do you think you’re talking to?” Ruth sneered. “One more word, and I’ll have Chad bankrupt your family by next week!”
Miriam went pale, her lips trembling. She didn’t say another word. Carter Corp was already hanging by a thread, and Ruth knew it.
I just frowned and walked out.
When I got into the car, George, the driver, glanced at me in the mirror. “Miss Soane, aren’t you already guaranteed admission?”
I raised a finger to my lips. “Shh.” Then I buckled my seatbelt.
We drove toward the exam site, but as we neared a fork in the road, I felt a sudden wave of unease.
“Take the left route,” I said.
George frowned. “But it’s longer. What if you’re late?”
“Better safe than sorry.”
I had a gut feeling Ruth had set something up on the main road.
George met my gaze in the rearview mirror, nodded slightly, and took the left turn.
2/2
