Looking up, I lock eyes with Tiffany and curse under my breath. This is the last thing I need right now. Just what on earth made her think that her presence was even wanted here is beyond me.
“Huntie,” she exclaims. She reaches out for me and I jolt backward, needing her touch like I need one of these nurses around here to put a needle in my arm. She pouts, and that is all it takes for me to push past her and start walking back down the hall.
“Huntie!” She yells in protest, as her feet, tucked in some way over the top high heels, scurry along after me and I make my way back to V’s room.
“What do you want, Tiffany?” I ask.
But to be honest, I couldn’t care less what the hell she wants when all any of us need right now is to not entertain whatever the fuck is in her head.
“I came to check on, Vickie! Horrible thing, Huntie. I am so, so sorry. I hope she will be alright.”
I roll my eyes, because anyone with half a brain knows that is the farthest thing from the truth.
“She’ll be fine, Tiff,” I lie because no one knows anything for sure yet. But the sooner I end this conversation the better.
“Oh good, I was so worried I…” She looks past me and into the room we have just finished walking to. Her eyes land on Rochelle.
“What is she doing here?” She snaps.
Rochelle’s head is bowed and her shoulders shake from crying. It takes everything in me not to break the space she needed and walk back in there and take her in my arms, but I don’t. Especially when she sure as hell doesn’t need to be confronted with the likes of Tiffany.
“My fiancé is doing what any family member would, sitting with her sister and praying for a miracle!”
Tiffany’s head snaps to me. Her eyes are a blaze of fury. “What did you just say?”
“Her sister.” She looks at me stunned. “Victoria..”
“I heard all about her sister. In fact, I knew before any of you did what kind of white trash Edward was when I overheard him talking to Rochelle’s mother in his office the night of your meeting on Sunset. You can’t tell me you’re actually going to marry the poor girl? Huntie, even you have more sense than that!”
“Wait,” I say, totally thrown and not even paying attention to the insult she just threw at all of us. “What meeting between Rochelle’s mom and Edward?”
She crosses her arms over her chest and stares me down. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Turning, she makes her way back towards the elevator. I am quick to follow.
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
She tosses me a smug smile. I wish like hell she was a man so I could knock it off of her. “Why don’t you go and ask your little white trash fiancé, isn’t that what you called her? God, Huntie, I really thought you were so much better than this. But I see now you are just as into whores as Edward is, never thought you’d stoop to his level. Then again, he is the man who raised you after your parents died when they were out one night on the town, partying like coked-out rock stars when they should have been home taking care of their only child.”
Reaching the elevators, she pushes the button and I swing her around to look at me. “Tell me, Tiff. Now! What do you mean when Rochelle’s mother met with Edward? And maybe. Just maybe I will let that comment about my parents slip.”
She looks down at where I have her arm held in a vice grip and gives me a smug smile. “Your fiancé, her mother is nothing but a drugged-out heroin addict. Has been since before the girl was born. She’s been blackmailing Edward since day one, and the poor bastard has been stupid enough to pay it, but all she has done is blow it up her veins and take every damn penny he ever gave her to get high. Never gave a single one to the girl you insist on making your wife.”
The door dings and she enters the elevator quickly while my brain tries to catch up with all the information she just gave me. The door begins to close, but I push it back open with my hand.
“That doesn’t make sense…”
She huffs and puts her hand on her hip. “Think about it, Hunter!” She hisses. “Edward paid a damn high price when he and Sylvia secured the adoption of Victoria when she was a baby. A price that would set anyone up for life! Yet, they live in a trailer park?” She rolls her eyes and pushes for the elevator to move again, but just as it does, I hit the door back open and force her to look at me.
“But that doesn’t mean…”
“What else do you think the woman does with all the money she’s made and all the money she continues to make Edward pay her?” My eyes grow wide. “Yeah, you heard me! He still pays. Pays so that she will not tell Rochelle, everything! And pays so that Mrs. Margaret Thomas won’t go to Victoria, the tabloids, spill every single fucking secret and give this town a scandal it would eat up and never ever fucking forget. Your fiancé’s mother is tearing the only family you’ve ever known apart, and you’re so vain you’re standing by her side instead of the ones that raised you.”
This time, when she pushes the button, I don’t stop her. The door closes as I come face to face with the secret that could be the one thing that succeeds in tearing me and Rochelle apart.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Rochelle
