The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 278

"Did you ever stop to think... that all of this was your own choice?"

Quinn froze.

"You took care of Mom and Dad, and I'm grateful. But you know exactly how they treated you in return."

"Growing up, they never shortchanged you on tuition or living expenses. When you said you wanted to study medicine, they didn't hesitate to pull strings with the board to get you into Metropolitan Medical School, because with your test scores, you never would have made it in. When you graduated and wanted to join my team, they pressured me until I agreed. You claim you were the only one taking care of them when they were sick, but did you forget that when you were ill, they refused to leave your bedside? They worried about you and cared for you as their own."

Garrison's tone was as clinical as if he were reading a medical chart. "You gave, but this family gave back. You stand here tallying up your sacrifices, but have you ever bothered to count what you received?"

Quinn's lips parted, but no words came out.

Garrison took a step forward. It was a small step, but Quinn instinctively retreated half a pace.

"And then there's Archie." His voice dropped lower, carrying a dark edge. "Do you honestly think I don't know what you've been teaching him?"

All the color drained from Quinn's face.

"You've been teaching him to call you 'Mommy,' haven't you?"

Garrison's tone remained flat, but every word sliced like a slow, methodical blade. "Last night, when Archie was crying for his mother, you told him he could call you 'Mommy' from now on. Isn't that right?"

Quinn stood rooted to the spot, looking as if she had been struck by lightning. Last night, when Archie woke up screaming from a nightmare, she had rushed in to comfort him. She had no idea Garrison had heard every word.

"Heh. Thank god Archie didn't agree. The boy might be a handful, but when it comes to what matters... he knows right from wrong."

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