“You come into my house and try to steal my man? Oh, sweetheart, I think we need to have a mother-daughter talk.” She blows smoke up at the ceiling, and my heart thuds. This is bad.

“Excuse me?” I say slowly, grabbing the first shirt I see in my drawer. Screw the bra.

“Oh, save the innocent act for Jett.” She snorts. “I knew you were seducing him for a while, you little traitorous cunt,” she screams. Her red lips look bizarre, like she has four balls injected in them, two on top and two on the bottom. Jesus, she reeks of booze.

“You’re drunk, so I’ll pretend this didn’t happen, okay?” I snap back while pulling out some black yoga leggings. I just want to get clothes on, some kind of barrier from her madness.

“Oh, I don’t think so. You need to go. Here.” She tosses what looks like an American Express Black Card on my bed. “Take the card and get out. You don’t need to bother showing up for the wedding.” She takes another drag.

Ugly words, hurtful words.

She’s got to be the worst person alive. To be honest, I don’t think she ever loved me, but this, buying me off, it’s almost laughable. My heart skips. If she is this desperate to get rid of me, that must mean she thinks I’m special to Jett.

I take a breath. “Mom, I’m not doing anything with Mr. Powers besides going to work with him. I have no idea what this is all about.”

She takes a step closer to me, and I despise being short, or as my father lovingly says, petite…whatever that is. Though I try to move away from her, she reaches for me with that claw of a hand.

“Mine. He’s mine. Don’t think I won’t do anything and everything to keep him.” She shakes me.

“Get off me, you old hag.” I rip my arm away. My face is on fire with humiliation and anger. I’m done with her. This abuse stops now.

“Hag? How dare you—”

“I dare everything. You have zero idea who I am.” I face her, and her eyes widen.

“You really are a stupid girl,” she sneers, smoke dancing around her pale face, making her look cartoonish.

“I’m far from stupid. Now, take your bribe money and get out of my room.” I look at the bed and the card.

“Maybe use it to get some more shit injected in your face. You’re looking a little tired today.” It’s petty and beneath me, but she’s a terrible person, and I have no intention of letting her destroy me anymore.