Page 185 of Toxic Kiss

“That’s right, sweetie. He was cheating on your dying mother with me for months. Planned on leaving her, too. Cyrus knew and didn’t tell you.”

The words hit like a punch to the chest, and the air leaves my lungs. For half a second, everything shifts.

No. No, that’s—it can’t be true.

Anita continues, obviously amused with herself.

“Strange. I would’ve thought that was relevant. You know, since you’re so close and all.”

My pulse roars in my ears. She’s lying, she has to be lying. My father would never. Would he?

“Nice try,” I force out, even though my throat feels tight. “You really think I’m going to believe anything that comes out of your mouth?”

Anita’s smile widens, and I can see the cruelty shining in her eyes. If she has ever been a good person, it’s gone now. It has morphed over time, with money and power, into something born of greed.

“I don’t need you to believe me. You can ask your father. Just think about it. All those business trips…”

Her words create a fissure in my heart that I don’t want there. My father changed after my mom died, but maybe he’s never been who I thought he was. I don’t let the fractures show. I won’t give her that.

“Even if it is true, you don’t get to deflect.” I take another step forward. “This is about Cyrus and the fact that you locked him up like he’s some kind of problem you can fix.”

“He has a problem,” she says sharply. “Look at him. Look at what he’s become.”

“And whose fault is that?” I yell back.

Her eyes flash with hatred. “Don’t you dare,” she warns.

“No, let’s talk about it,” I push, my voice rising now, anger burning through everything else. “Let’s talk about how you’ve controlled every aspect of Cyrus’s life, from who he talks to, to what he does, to what he is even. Telling him he needs to work harder, be better, or he’ll be nothing. Making him think that his career and passion are why his father died, and forcing him to live with the guilt. He was bound to crack under the weight.”

“I protected him.”

“You suffocated him.”

The words land like a ticking time bomb between us, ready to go off. Anita steps in close enough that I can smell her sickening perfume. The scent is expensive roses with something dying and rotten underneath.

“And what have you done?” Her voice drops, turning deadly quiet. “You think you’ve helped him?”

I don’t answer.

“You have always been a poison to my son. I was so happy when you left, and he was finally free of you and your toxic influence.”

I scoff and cross my arms. “My toxic influence? Oh, you are funny.

“You’re as pathetic today as you were the day you scampered off. What did it take, a month, for you to get fired?” She holds up her fingers and ticks off all the things that are supposed to be my fault. “My son has an overdose on your watch and gets arrested. And now…” Her eyes flick over me, slowly, as she tries to make me feel small, but I refuse to let her make me feel that way ever again. “The entire world has seen exactly how pathetic you are with your sex tape.”

Her words are a smack to the face.

“But please,” she adds sweetly, “tell me again how you’re good for him.”

Everyone is silently watching and waiting for my response. My chest rises and falls. Pain twists sharp in my ribs, in my throat, and in places I can’t name.

But I don’t break, I stand taller and lean in so that there’s no space left between us.

“Scampered off? That is an interesting way of putting it. You forget that I left and got a degree while putting distance between us. You may see it as running, but I see it as reshaping who I am and getting out from under your poisonous grasp.” I cock my head and stare at her as if seeing her for the first time.

“As for being fired and the sex tape…I’m starting to hear jealousy in your voice. Am I garnering more attention than you are? Is that the real problem here? Is that why you’ve chosen to lock Cyrus up and stand in front of all these cameras with your crocodile tears? We both know that you don’t really give a fuck if he is okay as long as you get your fifteen minutes of fame. I own that sex tape.” I look around. “Yes, it was me, and yes, I enjoyed every second.”

My heart is beating so fast in my chest at announcing that so publicly that I think I might pass out.