Meadow’s POV
Yvonne stepped further into the bathroom, her heels clicking against the tiles as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“Oh yeah?” she scoffed. “I mean, you ran away from me the moment you turned eighteen because you couldn’t stand being around me, but sure, Meadow. Long time no see.”
I clenched my jaw.
Yvonne was only ten years older than Juniper and me. When the incident happened with my parents <b>and </b>we were practically orphaned, she was nearly done with college and offered to take us in right when they were considering putting us in foster homes.
She raised us for eight years, and she was right. The moment I turned eighteen, I left and never looked back. But Juniper followed me per usual.
My brows drew together. “That’s not why I left. You know I left because of that schrship.”
I needed to get away from that city, from that life–even if Juniper trailing me halfway across the country defeated the entire purpose. But I was content, Because I’d received a schrship to college and didn’t have to spend my father’s dirty money in disguise of a trust fund.
And not even two yearster, Juniper ruined it for me.
“Yeah.” She let out a bitterugh, shaking her head. “But it has been five years and you never contacted me. Not once. You didn’t answer when I called… and then Ie to a party organized by Ingrid and I find out that you’re the…mystery woman her son married? What the hell, Meadow?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
“So if you knew I was going to be here, you wouldn’t havee?”
“Maybe.”
Yvonne regarded me silently, letting out a breath as she shook her head. “I can’t believe this. You know, an apology would be nice, Meadow. And maybe a “thank you“? I sacrificed eight years of my life because I wanted you and Juni to be happy, and the second you had a chance, you just left me a half–assed letter
and-
“My trust fund,” I cut in.
I’d given her ess to my trust fund in the letter that I left her. Not that she needed it, but it was just a
way of saying thank you. And goodbye to that life.
“That I didn’t need.” She stepped forward, her <b>manicured </b>nails tapping against the counter. <b>“</b>Did you ever
stop to think about how that made <b>me </b>feel?”
The backs of my eyelids burned, guilt wing its way out of my chest. I blinked hard. I was eternally grateful to Yvonne. She loved us, and I knew that my leaving had broken her.
“Of course, I did,” I muttered. “But I just… I couldn’t stay, and once I left, I couldn’te back.”
Yvonne’s eyes turned ssy and she choked out a wetugh. And then she extended her arms out, inviting me in for a hug
I epted that invitation without any hesitation.
“God, I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered into my hair when I copsed into her embrace. She felt familiar. She felt… like home. Not the home I spent the first eleven years of my life, but the home that Yvonne had built for me.
“I know,” I whispered back. “And I’ve missed you too. I’m so sorry, Yvonne.”
She chuckled. “I forgive you, love. You have no idea how much I wanted to search for you. But I knew you didn’t want me to. And Juni…” she exhaled. “How is she?”
A shiver racked my body. I don’t know,‘ I wanted to say. I don’t even know where she is, where my husband took her.‘
But that would only raise questions that I wasn’t ready to answer. Juniper may have been stubborn and mean to her and ruthless to me, but Yvonne still loved her as much as she did me.
So, I said: “She’s fine. Just wreaking havoc, I guess.”
“Well, when next you see her, tell her to give me a call, alright? I miss you both.”
“Sure,” I murmured in response.
We pulled away from each other as sheughed airily. For a moment, Yvonne watched me carefully, an expression that I couldn’t read on her face. And then, her lips pursed.
“So… ric Ashford? How did that happen?” Her voice was low,ced with something I couldn’t quite catch.
I swallowed, giving a half–hearted shrug. “It just… did=”
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Meadow,” She cut in “I may have given you the freedom and privacy you needed, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t keeping tabs on you.” Her gaze narrowed. “Andst I checked, you were dating that fucking loser–I’m sorry, but it’s true,” she added when I shot her a re.
Something boiled within me and my nostrils red. “Well, if you were keeping tabs like you say you were, then you’d have known that he was Juniper’s boyfriend. Not mine.”
“What do you….” Yvonne’s brows furrowed for a second, and then her eyes widened as realization hit her.”
No. She didn’t.”
“She did.<b>” </b>
“I didn’t know,” Yvonne said quickly, running her hand through her <b>hair</b>. “I swear, I didn’t.”
“I’m not trying to me you, Yvonne. I just wish you’d let me go like I asked.”
She looked in the mirror, dropping her purse on the counter and taking out a bold red lipstick. “Well,
forgive me for caring about you.”
1 scoffed.
“And it’s because
I care about you that I have to ask this, Meadow.” Her eyes found mine in the mirror.
Why did you marry him? Is it the money?”
I froze.
“I didn’t touch your trust fund, honey. It’s still there, waiting for you. So if it’s money you need, you can-
My jaw clenched. “Wow, if everyone was making assumptions, I didn’t think you’d be a part of them.”
Yvonne’s nostrils red slightly. “Well, you can’t expect me to think anything else, can you?” She exhaled. “Bute on, Meadow. ric Ashford? No, please. Anyone but him.”
Something tugged at my chest. Yvonne was talking like she knew ric. Or at least, knew the kind of person he was. But I didn’t care. People needed to stop fucking telling me what to do!
“Now, why would you say that? Do you know him intimately?”
Something soft crossed her eyes and my breath stuttered. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. I’d meant that as a sick joke. My brows furrowed, and she noticed. Her shoulders sagged.
“Just once.”
I hummed.
“But Meadow, I know enough to know that he’s not good for you, alright?” She dropped her lipstick, taking my hands in hers as she looked from the mirror to me. “Whatever you’re getting from him, it’s not worth it, okay? Stay away from him.”
I snatched my hands from her grip. Something about Yvonne being intimate with ric left a bitter taste. in my mouth. Even convincing myself that he couldn’t feel her and had to be overly stimted to feel anything remotely sexual, didn’t do anything to ebb the taste.
All I could think of was him fucking her.
While he’d never even fucked me once.
When I spoke, my voice was low. “He’s my husband, Yvonne.” I flipped my hair back. “I can’t stay away.”
Something shed in her eyes. “You’re making a big mistake, <b>Meadow</b>. He’s not–Fuck,” she muttered. “I suppose there’s no need to talk to you about this. You’re as stubborn as your mother once was.”
My jaw ticked. I was nothing like that woman. But Yvonne didn’t <b>say </b>that to hurt me. She was genuinely
concerned.
“Hey…” I started with a sigh, taking her hand in mine now. “I’m sorry, Yvonne. For everything. And I promise, I’ll be fine. But I’m going to need you to do me a favor.”
“What, babe?“,
I kept my eyes on hers. “Right now, I’m enjoying being unknown, okay? You’re here, and you know who I am, but if you could just keep it to yourself, I’d appreciate that.”
I didn’t want anyone to know that I knew Yvonne–especially ric. I didn’t want to be tied down by my
past. My roots.
Yvonne pursed her lips.
“Please, Aunt Yvonne,” I said desperately.
A few seconds passed before she sighed<b>, </b>rolling her eyes. “Fine. I’ll keep your secret. As long as you stop calling me that god–awful name. You’re the only one who still calls me that.”
Relief washed over me and Iughed. Yvonne had always hated her middle name, only preferring to be
called by her first
Shaking my head, I turned back to the mirror to run my hands under the tap.
“I never much liked your other name, rissa,”