From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 56

Chapter 4

After 1 hung up, I switched off my phone and fell into bed, completely out of it.

Intil the sound of aggressive pounding on my door jolted me awake.

till groggy, I stumbled over to answer it.

he second I cracked the door open, someone shoved it wide and barged in.

stinging slap landed across my cheek before I could even blink.

Are you trying to destroy your sister completely?!”

ty face burned like hell. I looked up to see my father standing there.

he man’s chest was heaving violently, his eyes filled with rage.

she came for me first!” I said through gritted teeth, my voice shaking.

You’re the one who did those disgusting things! And now you want to drag Victoria down with you? She’s still young–if she gets a criminal record, her life is ver! Drop the charges. Now!”

actually laughed at that. “First of all, Mr. Winters, I’m not a Winters. I don’t have any siblings.”

Second, there’s nothing disgusting about two consenting adults having sex. What’s disgusting is secretly filming someone and sharing it without consent!”

And finally? I’m not dropping shit.”

ad was shaking with fury now, pointing his finger right in my face:

Iow did I raise such a shameless piece of trash! Just like your dead mother–no class, no respect for your elders, jealous of your sister! You’ll never amount to

ything!”

hut up! Don’t you dare talk about my mom!”

y voice cracked as tears started falling.

ur family doesn’t have room for ungrateful bitches like your wife. Get out!”

ad stormed toward the door, still ranting and raving.

dammed it shut behind him, cutting off his toxic bullshit.

y coworkers were poking their heads out of their rooms, whispering like vultures:

id you hear? Sage apparently slept her way to the top. Think it’s true?”

mean, they literally have photos and videos of her doing it. Even though they shut it down fast, plenty of people at the party got screenshots. True she is damo

to wonder Jake didn’t want her. Who’d marry someone that slutty?”

slid down the door until I hit the floor, my body giving out completely

noticed my phone kept ringing and going to voicemail Jake’s name flashing on and off the screen.

ut I just ignored it, still sitting in the dark like a ghost

09:35

From “Clings in Gong My Inderndence Was Hit Tiermi Rävrat

hapter 4

en a text came through: [Answer the phone, or I’m coming up. Your choice.]

e phone started ringing again.

ter a few seconds, I picked up.

m sorry.” Jake’s voice sounded rough, almost hoarse.

at just made my throat tighten more.

‘you’re actually sorry, then set the record straight. You can see what people are saying about me.”

ence on his end for a few beats.

ige, making this bigger won’t help anyone. Victoria’s still young…”

ut him off: “So it’s fine that I’m being called a whore and having my private photos leaked, as long as precious Victoria is okay?”

his will blow over…” He paused, his voice getting harder. “But if you press charges against Victoria, do you have any idea what that’ll do to her reputation? e’s your sister-”

usea hit me like a truck. I hung up and barely made it to the bathroom before I started puking.

ollapsed on the cold tile floor and finally let myself fall apart completely.

new Dad’s priorities–his reputation and the Winters family name came before everything. He’d never let Victoria face consequences.

d I knew where Jake stood too. The Winters family had their claws deep in the military hierarchy. He’d never let Victoria get dragged through the mud.

ouldn’t fight them. I didn’t have the power to fight them.

I gave up.