Emilia Hayes POV:
The rage in my chest erupted like a volcano. I spun around and stomped down the stairs, each step a thunderous crack against the wood.
The three of them in the living room fell silent, startled by my sudden fury.
Jaimie was the first to recover, crossing her arms with a contemptuous sneer. "What now? Still throwing a tantrum? Let me tell you, Emilia, you don't run this house."
I walked right up to her, staring into her eyes. "The bruise on my mother's hand," I said, my voice dangerously low. "Was it you?"
A flicker of guilt crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by an even more arrogant smirk. "So what if it was? She's a dying invalid. I'm more worried about her dirtying my carpets. If it weren't for your father, I would have thrown her out on the street long ago."
Her words were a poisoned blade, plunging straight into my heart. My body went cold, but my blood was boiling.
Donnie stepped forward, trying to play the peacemaker. "Emi, calm down. I'm sure Jaimie didn't mean it..."
My head snapped toward him, my gaze colder than I'd ever felt. "This doesn't concern you. Stay out of it."
He flinched back, the fake smile finally wiped from his face.
I turned back to Jaimie. Before she could react, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face with all my strength.
The sharp crack echoed in the silent room.
Jaimie clutched her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief. A second later, a piercing shriek tore from her throat. "You... you dare to hit me?"
I shook my stinging hand, my eyes locked on hers. "That was for my mother. If you ever touch her again, I promise you, the next time it won't be just a slap."
Ira finally snapped out of his shock, his face red with anger. "Emilia! Are you crazy? Apologize to your Aunt Jaimie right now!"
I turned to him, my eyes filled with disappointment and scorn. "Apologize? You're the ones who should be apologizing. You sell me for money. You let this woman abuse your ex-wife while she's dying. Ira Hayes, you make me sick."
My words turned his face a shade of purple. He pointed a trembling finger at me, too furious to speak.
Jaimie, however, launched herself at me like a feral animal, clawing and scratching.
I was ready for it. I sidestepped, and she stumbled past me, collapsing in a heap on the carpet.
She sat there and began to wail, turning to Ira. "Ira! Look at her! It's either her or me in this house! You have to do something!"
Ira looked at me, his eyes filled with conflict. But in the end, greed won over family. He gritted his teeth. "Emilia, you will pack your things right now and go apologize to Mr. Stone. If you don't, I'm cutting off all of your mother's medical funding!"
It was his final threat, my greatest weakness. He thought I would crumble, just like I always had before.
I looked at him and suddenly started to laugh, a bitter, broken sound. "Threaten me? Ira, have you forgotten how 'clean' your company's books are?"
His face went pale. I had interned at his company. I knew about the shady accounting he did to evade taxes.
"You wouldn't dare!" he stammered.
My smile vanished, my expression turning to ice. "Try me. Let's see what happens first: you stopping my mother's medicine, or me sending proof of your tax evasion to the IRS and the media."
He was completely stunned, his mouth hanging open.
Jaimie's wailing stopped. She stared at me in horror, as if seeing her stepdaughter for the first time.
Donnie stood to the side, his face dark and furious. He never imagined the meek girl he knew could become so formidable.
I looked at their terrified faces, feeling no satisfaction, only a cold, empty void.
"From this day on," I said, my voice flat and final. "I am done with this family."
I turned my back on them, my spine straight.
I walked up the stairs, leaving a dead silence behind me.
