Chapter 6 - Mother's Plea
The next afternoon, I was walking out of a grocery store when a black SUV pulled up beside me.
The tinted window rolled down. It was my mother.
"Get in, Evelyn," she demanded.
"I'm fine walking," I said, gripping my grocery bags tightly.
"Please," her voice cracked. "Evie, just get in. People are staring."
Against my better judgment, I climbed into the backseat.
My mother looked terrible. The flawless makeup couldn't hide the dark circles under her eyes.
"Your father is filing the papers tomorrow," she said immediately. "For the conservatorship. He's going to claim you're having a mental breakdown."
"He has no proof of that," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"He has expensive doctors on his payroll," she countered. "He will make it look real, Evie. Please, just give him the money. I don't want to see you destroyed."
"Are you asking for him, or for you, Mom?" I asked.
She flinched. "We are going to lose the house. My charities, my standing. Everything."
"He stole the money, Mom," I said bluntly. "Did you know?"
She looked away, staring out the window. "A wife doesn't ask questions when the bills are paid."
"That's complicity," I said, disgusted.
"It's survival!" she snapped, turning back to me. "You think you're so righteous with your little trust fund? You have no idea how the real world works!"
"Actually, I think I'm learning," I replied coldly.
"If you let him fall, you fall with us," she threatened, tears spilling over her lashes. "The Kingsley name will be ruined."
"I don't care about the name," I said. "Pull over."
The driver stopped the car.
I opened the door and looked at my mother one last time.
May you like
"Tell Dad I'll see him in court," I said.
I slammed the door and walked away, my heart heavy but my resolve stronger than ever.
