Chapter 9
‘Welcome home, Celeste.’
I turned to face the door, the shudders racking my body intensifying as I looked at Dr Joanna Wood. She stood just inside the doorway, flanked by the brutish orderly and a second one who was almost as big as him. They were blocking the exit, making escape impossible.
Dr Wood’s smile was cool. ‘What, aren’t you even going to say hello to your mother?’
I shook my head, finally finding my voice. ‘You’re not my mother.’
‘Really, Celeste, after everything I’ve done for you, you’re going to disown me?’ She gave a laugh that held not even a hint of humour. ‘It doesn’t work that way, sweetheart. I am your mother, whether you like it or not. Nothing will ever change that.’
‘Everything you’ve done for me?’ My words were a screech. ‘You strapped me down and to
