And I, their only biological child, had been nothing but an unwanted afterthought. A failed experiment.
Not long ago, these were the same parents who had screamed at me to go die when I was drowning in depression.
And just moments ago, Fiona had gone to them and said, “Jolene really jumped from the roof.”
Mom stood frozen for a long time. When the weight of the truth finally sank in, she let out a wretched scream.
“My poor Jolene-!”
Then her grief twisted into rage. She turned on Fiona, fingers digging into her hair. “My real daughter is dead, and yet you some bastard child–are still standing here?!”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 10
Fiona wailed, scrambling to escape. She turned to Dad, desperate. “Daddy, help me!”
But for the first time, he didn’t protect her.
Instead, he struck her across the face. She fell to the ground, stunned.
He didn’t stop there.
A second later, he kicked her, his voice shaking with fury. “It’s all your fault! Your fault! None of this would’ve happened if it weren’t for you!”
They turned on her like rabid dogs, striking her, screaming, completely losing themselves in their anger. By the time someone managed to pull them away, they were still howling and cursing.
Violence was violence. No matter Fiona’s true identity, they had crossed the line. The police arrived soon after and took them away.
As they were being escorted out, I finally stepped forward.
I looked at these two middle–aged people who had once been my parents.
“Stop wailing,” I said. “I’m not dead.”
They froze.
“You didn’t even bother to check if I was alive before putting on this pathetic display,” I continued. “What a joke.”
From behind me, Zack Millen leaned against the doorframe his leg braced on a crutch. He looked as sickly as ever, but his voice was as sharp as a blade.
“You two sure love playing the grieving parents,” he said, tilting his head. “It almost looks real.”
That shut them up.
Their eyes flicked to me, full of hope. Mom spoke carefully “Jolene… you’re okay. That’s all that matters.”
I stepped forward.
Pressed my fingers to the broken corner of her lips–where Fiona had scratched.
Then I pushed, hard, until blood oozed from the wound.
With a look of pure disgust, I wiped my fingers on her shirt
