Everything he'd given me, he could just as easily give to Nora.
Carter's brow furrowed, and his voice dropped to something dangerous.
"Apologize to Nora and her mother."
"Or I'll make sure you never work in Crestfield again."
He used to defend me just like that. Blindly. Fiercely. Without asking questions.
Now the same ruthlessness was aimed squarely at me.
"Even though you know they provoked me first. Even though you can see I'm the one who got hit." My voice was steady, each word precise. "And you still want me to apologize. Is that right, Carter?"
Carter pressed his lips into a thin line and said nothing.
Leila took that as her cue. She rushed forward and slapped me across the face, just as she'd been itching to do.
"Amanda, shut your mouth!"
"Don't forget—he's your sister's husband now. What right do you have to say something like that?"
I laughed.
But the tears spilled before I could stop them.
"What right do I have?" My voice cracked. "My sister stole my husband. Mom... I have more right than anyone."
Carter's tone went cold. "She's Nora's mother. Not yours."
I cut him off, my eyes locked on Leila's bloodless face.
"She is mine."
Leila screamed like a woman unhinged. "Stop talking!"