Chapter 2
Even if Derek ever felt a hint of sympathy for me, it would always be swept away by how much he favored Kaylee and how little he cared for me.
That was how much he hated me.
He hated me so much, he never trusted a word I said.
A week later, it was time for the big corporate party our families were hosting together.
Before we left, Derek glanced at me.
He said, "There's a corporate party tonight. Are you—"
"Derek," Kaylee's gentle voice interrupted.
She hooked her arm around his. "Take me with you, please? I've never been to such a big event before."
He didn't answer Kaylee. Instead, he kept staring at me, like he was waiting for me to say something.
I didn't say a word.
Sometimes, silence really was the best answer.
I walked straight to the car waiting outside, opened the door, and got in, blocking out the world outside.
Through the rearview mirror, I saw Derek's face darken. He looked pissed off by how I ignored him.
Derek shook off Kaylee's hand.
But in the end, still fuming, he took her with him and got into the car in the back.
The party venue was packed with glamorous guests and shimmered with sparkling lights.
I stood off to the side, nursing my drink, watching the young man in the center of it all, looking like he owned the place.
That was my little brother, Antonio.
He was laughing and chatting with the Garrett family elders, already the hottest new talent in the company.
A sharp, sour ache twisted in my chest, impossible to put into words.
There was a time when I was the one in the limelight, basking in all that attention.
"Holly." A tense, low voice snapped me out of my memories.
To my surprise, my parents showed up too, their faces thunderous as they headed straight for me.
My father, Brandon, grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard it actually hurt.
"Are you out of your mind? I heard you're getting a divorce," he snapped.
He didn't treat me like someone who had just gone through a miscarriage.
I tried to pull away. "It's my choice."
"Choice?" My mother, Juliet, cut me off sharply. "Weren't you the one who said you liked him? The Garrett family is loaded and powerful. Who do you think you are to even mention divorce?"
A sour ache twisted in my chest.
"I don't like him anymore," I said.
My mother poked me hard in the forehead.
She snapped, "But you need to look out for Antonio for once.
"The Garrett family is supporting us right now. You can't just think about yourself."
Seriously, look out for Antonio? I had been looking out for him for over twenty years.
Was my marriage still the thing keeping him afloat?
I had come to accept that my parents were nothing but soul-sucking leeches who kept draining me dry.
Exhausted, I stood my ground. "I'm divorcing Derek. No matter—"
Slap! Before I could even finish, my mother's hand landed on my cheek with a sting that made my head spin.
My mother was trembling with fury.
"I dare you. Try being this disrespectful again and see what happens," she said.
My cheek was on fire, and tears sprang to my eyes.
I clutched my face, my voice cracking with disbelief.
"Do you even care I just lost my baby? Do you even know I'm still dealing with depression?" I demanded.
My mother was ruthless.
She snapped, "Wasn't it your own fault you lost the baby? Depression is just you being melodramatic!
"Enough with that. Go apologize to Derek right now!"
They hauled me over to Derek, and my mother shoved me hard.
"Apologize to Derek, now!" she snapped.
I stood there, defiant, refusing to budge, the sting of her slap still burning on my cheek.
Seeing I wasn't going to say anything, my parents immediately jumped in, talking over me. "Derek, don't mind her. She's just throwing a fit."
They wouldn't shut up, apologizing and explaining on my behalf, acting like I wasn't even there.
It was like I was just a kid throwing a tantrum, and they had to come in and clean up my mess.
I was furious, but there was nothing I could say.
My feelings and my choices meant nothing to them, like I didn't even exist.
I was nothing but a tool, just something to serve the interests of our families.
I stood there, seething, for what felt like forever.
Eventually, everyone else left, and Derek was the only one left.
Derek shot me a smug look, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he taunted me.