EXCERPT FROM BETRAYED - A romantic suspense novel | Page 26
MORGAN ST. JAMES
SIX
Hatred, as well as love, renders its votaries credulous.
~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Confessions
There she sat, rocking in her chair, eyes closed. Patrick had
come to the house and perched himself on the edge of the green
mohair sofa, looking like a sad puppy dog after her daughter’s
breakdown. He had twiddled his thumbs and said he couldn’t
stand to see his daughter in such pain. Why, the fool even got
down on his knees to beg her to be reasonable.
She hadn’t listened to a word he said as she sat there
triumphant, stone-faced.
When all of his pleading failed, he lost his temper and
shouted, “You drove me away, you know. Now you’re doing the
same to Laurel. Well, I’m not going to stand by and watch you
do to her what you did to me.” The door slammed as he stalked
out.
She hadn’t cared one bit.
A few days later, he stomped into the living room with his
fist raised, and threatened her. “I’ll fight you in court!” he
yelled, waving his arms around. Because he was so used to
getting his way, Patrick’s frustration gave her great pleasure.
“Just what are you going to do, Patrick? Fight me for
custody of a sixteen-year-old?”
She knew that would never happen. There was no way his
sexy wife, who was closer to Laurel’s age than hers, would
tolerate having a troubled teen in the house.
Another time he begged. “I’ll pay for lawyers to check it out.
Just do what you know in your heart is right. Sign the damn
contract. Let our Laurie have her dream!”
Never once did Maude allow herself to admit the real reason
she wouldn’t sign the contract was that she didn’t want to lose
her daughter. She knew George Balanchine was considered a
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