Chapter 25
Brenda made a face and grabbed Alyssa’s arm to pull her closer, Alyssa, hello? I’m talking here. You hear me or what?”
She tugged a bit too hard and heard a “hiss” as Alyssa’s white dress was torn open.
Alyssa checked out the slit in her dress and then looked up at Brenda with a chilly gaze so chilly
Brenda actually stepped back, a bit freaked out by those icy eyes Bun then she snapped herself out of it, thinking, ‘Hold up. I’m Sean’s mom. No way I’m gonna let his girlfriend scare me
Straightening up. Brenda asked, “Why are you giving me that look? You should be looking after things at home, not out and about in a skimpy dress. Now go and make us some lemon meringue pie. The pizza for lunch was a disaster. Oh, and do check with Megan on what she’d like for dinner and get started on that, too”
Just then. Megan popped out of her room, chiming in, I’m craving mussels in a garlic white wine sauce tonight. Lunch was so bad that it hardly filled me up.
Alyssa was tuning Megagout. Her tone was frosty as she questioned Brenda, “This dress is 600 dollars. Are you paying cash or doing a transfer?”
Then Brenda, glaring, snapped, “Hold on. A dress for 600 dollars! Do you really think Sean prints money? Blowing through cash like it’s nothing?”
Alyssa had heard enough of this. When Alyssa cooked for their family, Brenda and Megan always wanted the good stuff, sometimes even dropping a grand on a meal. But Alyssa was footing the bill then, and Brenda never peeped about the cost.
Whenever Sean got Alyssa a cheap gift, maybe worth dozens of bucks, Brenda would lecture, “Sean’s not making money hand over fist, you know. You’ve been together forever. These gifts are a complete waste of money.”
Alyssa, cool as ice, cut in, “So, are you handing it over or what? If not, I’m asking Sean for 6 thousand dollars.”
Megan got all worried. “You think Sean’s just gonna hand over money if you ask? Please, who do you think you are?”
Alyssa smirked. “Well, let’s find out if he will.”
Brenda knew Sean had been eyeing Alyssa’s 20% share stake. Typically, whenever Alyssa hinted at needing money, he would comply But doling out 6 thousand dollars to Alyssa didn’t sit right with Brenda.
Caught up in the moment, Brenda finally huffed. “Fine, I’ll give to you.”
Brenda transferred Alyssa 600 dollars and mentioned, “That’s a hefty sum. Try not to blow it all on fancy clothes this time. Sean’s money doesn’t come easy. I spotted some pants on ellay that looked perfect for you for just a few bucks.”
Alyssa just shrugged it off and headed to her room with her bag
Megan’s voice followed her. “Hey, what’s the plan in there? Off to cook!”
Alyssa acted as if she hadn’t heard, locked her door, and disappeared into the bathroom for a shower. Post–shower, she slapped on a face mask and grabbed a book from atop her bed to wind down before bedtime.
Outside, Megan and Brenda occasionally knocked, sounding both puzzled and a bit annoyed. “What’s going on in there? Aren’t you cooking tonight? We’re starving. Plus, the kitchen and the dining table are a mess.”
Irked by the interruptions, Alyssa popped on her headphones, tuned out the world, and drifted off to sleep.
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