Chapter 3Receipts and Revenge

All eyes snapped to my mother.

She snapped.

She stood up and slapped me across the face. Hard.

"You little liar! What are you talking about?! When did your father get a bonus?! I haven't disciplined you in a while and you’re making up stories!"

"If you don't explain where you got that money right now, you aren't leaving this table!"

The slap silenced the room. Even Uncle Mike and Aunt Beth, who were mingling at the back, rushed over.

"Diane! What is going on? It’s Tyler’s birthday, don't make a scene!"

"This is family business, Mike! Stay out of it!" Mom screamed, her face red. She grabbed my arm, trying to drag me out.

She knew the "bonus" was a lie, but she needed to get me away from Aunt Sarah before the web of lies collapsed.

I wasn't going anywhere.

I stumbled backward and deliberately fell to the floor.

"Mom! Why are you hitting me?!" I wailed.

"Diane, are you crazy?" Aunt Karen tried to help me up, but Mom shoved her away.

"Don't touch her! This brat is out of control! Who knows what shameful things she’s been doing at college to get that money! I’m going to break her legs!"

"Shameful?" Jessica scoffed. "Aunt Diane, Summer got into Stanford. She’s on the Dean’s List. We all saw the acceptance letter. What’s shameful about that?"

"Exactly," Aunt Beth chimed in, pulling me behind her. "Summer is the golden child. Why are you treating her like a criminal?"

"You people don't get it!" Mom was panting now.

"I don't give her two thousand a month! I barely give her enough to eat! Where did she get two grand to give to Tyler? Look at her dress! That’s Gucci! Unless she’s selling her body, where did that money come from?!"

Silence.

Even Aunt Beth let go of my arm.

In my mother’s eyes, my reputation meant nothing compared to her hoarding Aunt Sarah’s money. She would rather brand me a prostitute than pay back a loan.

So be it.

"Summer... is that true?" Aunt Beth asked, her voice changing.

She looked at me with a mix of pity and disgust.

"If that’s how you got the money... take it back. I can't accept that. Tyler is innocent. I don't want him catching... whatever you might have."

She pulled the envelope out of her purse and shoved it back into my hand, wiping her fingers on a napkin afterward.

The other relatives scooted their chairs away.

Mom let out a manic laugh. She snatched the envelope from me and stuffed it into her bra.

"It’s okay, Summer. Mommy doesn't judge you. Just tell the truth and we can fix you."

I wasn't nervous. I smirked.

"Mom, that’s rich coming from you. You gave me the money. Why are you pretending you didn't? Just to avoid paying Aunt Sarah back? Are you seriously destroying your daughter to save ten grand?"

"Summer! Stop lying! I’m going to kill you!"

Mom grabbed a heavy bread basket—the metal kind—and raised it to smash my head.

I calmly pulled out my phone and held it up.

"Stop! Look! I have proof the money came from Mom!"