**Third person**
I sipped my coffee, my eyes locked onto Matthew's. “When I'm done with Karen, my parents are next.”
Then my gaze shifted from him to somewhere beside his chair. “I need to know how my mom felt conspiring against her own daughter.” I sucked my teeth and wiped my face as a stray tear escaped from the side of my eye.
“I wonder what it was like for her. Was it easy? Did she hesitate?” My chest tightened, and my voice came out in broken pieces. “Who knows, maybe she probably even brought up the idea. But still, I'd never understand why.”
“Valerie,” Matt called out, placing a comforting palm on my shoulder. And from my tear-blurred eyes, I could see his jaw clench. “What good is having a family anyway? when all they do is betray and abandon you?”
I shrugged, trying to se
