Chapter 50
Diside the car, Courtney faced Phoebe, who was still crying and kicking, as she pulled out her pla
I leave your by the mandib
acting im
phone. “Phoebe, this is your final warning, Keep
ty fear. Pin
Phorter, usually
The sternness in Courtney’s expression was enough to make Phoebe retreat into the comer, her tears and kicks subalued by held with Vera and Austin and now realized she was on her own
“Good kids alon’t but or curse. And what your mom says isn’t always the truth. The documents show you’re my daughter, and I luve every right
ourtory explained to Phurbe, slimming her the papers.
take your with me
n the documents and looked at Comm
infurd. “Are you my mom?” Her whole world was
as falling apart right before her
Courtney typed and played the tevi qoopeech, “Well, I wouldn’t have a daughter like you?
Phoebe’s tears flowed anew, Contury frowned and offered her a lollipo
Glancing in the rearview mirror, Lorraine spike in a deep voice, “Austin and Vera are railing us.
Tiu not planning to raise their kid. I’m just teaching them a lesson and showing them I’m not someone to mess with” Courtney signed. She was officially war with Vera and Austin.
“My
mens said this is junk food. I won’t eat this from the likes of you, Phoebe huffed, tossing the lollipop ar Courtney’s fort
Courtney nodded, picked up the lollipop, unwrapped it, and popped it into her own mouth. Then she tore open another one right in front of
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Expecting Courney to give it to her, Phoebe watched eagerly, her hand reaching out. But Courmey handed it to Lorraine instead.
Torraine put it in her mouth and looked at Phoebe. “Oh, so sweet. I’ve got the strawberry flavor. It’s delicious.”
“Yosi high–class ladies don’t understand the simple joys of us common folk, Lorraine said with a smirk, opening a bag of potato chips. “This is the real deal. I’m almost in tears. Thaven’t had potato chips in live yours.”
They knew as doctors that it was junk food, but what they missed was the comfort of their homelanil. A sudden sadness washed over Lorraine, and she glanced at Courtney before sitting quietly.
Looking nervous, Carl reached for Lorraine’s hand. “We’re back. It’s all over”
Lorraine didn’t speak, her eyes welling up. The horrors of live years in the South Weiddan war zone were something only they could understand.
“Is that potato chipo” Phoebe asked, enticed by the unell, trying to be good, “I can buy them from you”
Courtory ignored her, munching on her chips.
“Are you mute?” Phoebe asked, annoyed.
Courtney responded in sign language. “Yes, I am mute?
Realizing why her mom always called Courtury a mute, Planche begin to
Feeling annoyed, Courtney tore open another lollipop and popped it into Phoebe’s mouth,
Phoche sucked on it, tasting a sweetness she had never experienced before.
Sour Phoebe could remember, Vera had told her she was a high–class lady, and the Lewis family’s status in Henisburg was enough to make her a socialite. Vera always dressed her in expensive clothes, costing tens of thousands of dollars each
But Vera never allowed her to rat such candies and sucks, calling them junk food and saying a lady should eat only the finest steak and fresh milk, with ingredients them in fin
you can’t
“Thanks for the candy, so Ell hold off on calling you a hour wrecker—for now, Phoebe mitered, her voice barely above a whisper. “That you a take my dad away from my
“Lasten up, kabla. Your man’s the one who banged in Courtory was your dad’s wife frat, got it? Lorraine was determined to set the revond straight, knowing that if slar diduct trach Phoebe right from wrong, those wrong ideas would stick.
Phoebe’s eyes brimmed with tears as die stared at Courtney. “That’s not what my mom tells me“
“Your mom’s the our with the problem,” Lorralur sall, her voice dripping the point in arguing; she was all about an rye for all eye.
masin. “Like mother, like daughter” After that, Lorraine didn’t see
2
Chapter 30
With a lollipop in her mouth, Courtney looked out the car window, lost in thought.
As they sat at a s
a stoplight. Austin pulled up next to them. “Courtney, don’t do anything you’ll regret. Don’t hurt the kid. Can we pull over and talk this
Without a word, Courtney rolled up the window, tuning Austin out
“Courtney As Austin was still calling after her, Carl stepped on the gas and drove away
Soon, they arrived at the building where Courtney lived, Courtney stepped out and motioned for Phoebe to follow.
With her small backpack on and a lollipop in hand, Phoebe looked at the old building with a scrunched nose. “Your place is kind of a dump.”
“The place you live in was mine first” Courtney played the text–to–speech to Phoebe
Phoebe went quiet with the lollipop in her mouth as she chewed on the information, unsure who to believe–Vera or Courtney,
“You head up. We’re out of here,” Carl said, eager to get Lorraine away. Their presence could throw a wrench in Vera’s plans.
“But if we leave now,” Lorraine said, confusion still clouding her face.
“Get in the ear,” Carl urged, and with that, he helped Lorraine into the car and they drove away.
Vera, who had been lying low in a nearby van, finally stepped out once Carl was gone, slamming the van door behind her. “Courtney, give me back my daughter, she demanded.
Courtney clutched Phoebe’s backpack, her gaze daring Vera to make a move. “The papers say she’s mine. A little surprise from you and Austin, and I’m keeping her
Vera sneered and gestured for the men in the car to join her. “Courtney, let’s see if you’re still so brave when you’re outnumbered.”
Courtney’s face clouded over as she watched seven or eight men step out of the van, ready for whatever came next.
