That was the first time I ever disrespected my husband. The look on your father’s face was priceless. That was the first time that Everett genuinely apologized. But his betrayal was too massive for me to forgive. It was God’s job to forgive him, not mine.

Even though Envy’s mother died when she was a baby, she acts exactly like that tramp. Hateful, manipulative, and spiteful. She’s nothing like us, because she’s not one of us. She was conceived in lust and sin, and she carries on that tainted legacy,” Marie said truthfully.

Eve and Eden were lost for words. They never expected to hear that Envy was only their half-sister.

CHAPTER 6

“I genuinely don’t know what to say. I held Daddy in such high regards. I remember watching him holding your tissue while you blew your nose. I watched him polish your toenails and brush your hair before you went to bed. I would’ve never known-”

“You would’ve never known that he was just like any other man. It wasn’t your place to know that Sweetheart. Everett was the leader of the pack of fucked up men if you ask me,” Marie admitted as she interrupted her oldest daughter. Thinking back to all she had endured was making her angry.

“I guess you really can’t judge a book by its cover. I never thought that daddy was that type of man. Ma, you’ve always looked so happy. No red eyes from crying, not a strand of hair out of place, and a smile was always on your face. You and daddy were relationship goals. I always said I wanted a man just like my dad,” Eden said as she sat in the middle of the bed.

The knowledge that her father had been so heartless to a woman with the heart of gold genuinely hurt.

Marie replayed her daughter’s words in her head and without warning, she threw her head back and laughed.

“Relationship goals? I never understood why women say they want a man just like their dad. When they don’t know what they’re asking for. You knew Everett as a father, not as a man. We have two very different views of one person. Do you understand?” Marie asked.

Eve nodded her head in understanding. Eden didn’t respond and Marie knew that she wouldn’t. Eden was just now realizing that she had gotten exactly what she asked for.

“Eden let me be clear, you should never look at any couple as relationship goals just because you see a smile. If you watched me hard enough, you would’ve seen the Visine I dropped in my eyes to hide the redness. Smiling faces sometimes hide the most pain. Do you understand that?” Marie asked as she looked into her daughter’s bloodshot eyes.