019
Mirabella
Everything inside me flushed out, leaving only hollowness. Richard scrutinized me as if he wanted to confirm the blow had landed, and I was sure he did by the satisfaction in his eyes. Was this not all he had ever wanted? To see me shamed and kicked out of his son's life. He had certainly done it in the most satisfying way for himself. He should have left then, but instead, he announced calmly, “I have a deal for you, Mirabella. I am not as cruel a man as you might think; you are allowed to have your opinions about me. But I will not let you walk away with nothing. You are a strong, brave woman, and I admire your resilience.”
That would have sounded poetic or even admirable if it were not coming from the mouth of the one man who I was certain had always hated me. He had j
