Page 195 of Filthy Hot Billionaire
“Why? Why give him more time?”
I stepped toward her, my voice dropping an octave or three. “Because I fell in love with you when you were fifteen fucking years old, Em. I wanted you with every breath I took. But I knew you weren’t ready for me.” I motioned toward Kieran. “For us.”
“You left me there,” she stated harshly. “Your mother hated me, Knox. She made my life miserable.”
I couldn’t argue because it was the truth.
And it was my one real regret in all of this.
~~~~
Emily
I listened to every word out ofKnox’s mouth, comparing it to what my father had told me. It made sense now, but it did little to ease the ache in my chest. Maybe Knox hadn’t instigated it, but he’d played a part in manipulating me the same way my father and Kitty had. And worse, he’d left me there, allowed his mother to belittle me for years, to treat me worse than the help.
For that, I hated him.
“You didn’t think to tell me?” I prompted. “Didn’t think that I deserved to know?”
“What would you have done?”
“I would’ve at least stood a chance against her,” I shouted. “I wouldn’t’ve had to endure her cruelty.”
“You were treated like a child, but they didn’t abuse you,” Knox declared.
I barked a laugh. “No? I guess whoever fed you your intel didn’t tell you about the times Kitty locked me in my room for days, not allowing anyone to talk to me, not allowing me to get dressed or take a shower. I guess because she gave me food and water, that was okay. At least I wasn’t going to starve to death.”
I could tell by the way his eyes rounded, he hadn’t known about that.
“Or how about the times she locked me in the sauna? Said I needed to sweat out my devious urges because she caught me watching something she disapproved of on TV. Was that okay?”
“Jesus bloody Christ,” Kieran muttered.
“I was Kitty’s whipping boy,” I shouted. “She hated me, and when she had a bad day,Iwas the one who paid for it.”
“Em,” Knox said softly.
I shook my head, held my hand up. “No. Don’t. I don’t need your pity now, Knox. I never understood why she hated me, but it makes sense now, so thank you for telling me,” I muttered, exhaling heavily as I started toward the door.
“Emily,” Knox called out.
I didn’t turn around, pausing with my hand on the doorknob. “There’s nothing more to be said.”
“Emily, please,” Kieran pleaded. “Don’t walk out that door.”
Although it would’ve been easy to turn back, to rush into their arms, let them ease the pain in my heart with their promises and their sympathy, I knew I couldn’t go back. I owed myself more than that. I’d spent my entire life with someone manipulating me in some way. It was time I took the reins of my own life.
It took more effort than I thought I possessed to walk out of that apartment, but I managed.
And I didn’t look back.
~~~~
Kieran
“Go after her,” I bit out, glaringat Knox, hoping he could feel the anger that palpitated with every beat of my heart.
“I can’t.”
