Ch.4~Jodie

Jodie

“Sit down!”

I stare at him, my chest tightening. His face is cold and sharp, eyes dark, lips pressed into that rigid line I’ve known all my life. The same man who never smiled at me, never looked at me like I mattered.

“What do you want?” I shoot back, as far as I know, we have no business and I have never been given an opportunity to sit down with him and talk, so what is it he wants? My mother looks at me with an expression that says, ‘You can't talk to your father like that, dear.’

Enid clicks her tongue behind me but I don't pay her any attention.

My father doesn’t answer. Instead, he gestures to the chair. “Sit.”

I give him a look to show I have no time to sit down.

He sighs. “I spoke to a well-known publishing house. They’re willing to publish your meaningless, boring novels.”

My brows knit together. “What?” I probably heard wrong, because my father who never cared about me, is suddenly bringing up my dream? Something is off.

He continues like I didn’t speak. “You’ll meet them tomorrow morning. I’ve arranged everything.” As if he’s doing me the favor of my life. I grind my jaw together, my hand clenching the strap of my handbag.

I stare at him, then let out a small laugh. “You think I’m that stupid? You’ve never once cared about my writing, and now suddenly you want to help me chase my dream?”

His lips tighten. “Watch your tone, Jodie.”

He leans forward, voice low. “Stay in this city. Behave, and maybe you’ll finally get the life you wanted. You’ll be recognized for something meaningful instead of wasting your time.”

I laugh again, empty. “So you knew about my dream but never cared. Now you’re offering a ‘dream’ in exchange for what, exactly? More blood?”

He narrows his eyes. “You should appreciate it when someone offers to help you.”

I shake my head, the old ache crawling up. “Help? You’ve never helped me unless it benefits you, Father.”

The sight of them makes my body lock up. For a split second, I want to believe maybe—maybe it’s all real, she was hurt. But then I see her eyes. The guilt in them is so clear it stings worse than any lie.

She tries to smile, her lips trembling. “Jodie, sweetheart… come home.”

Her voice is soft, pleading, like she’s trying to erase everything with one word.

I stare at her, my heart twisting in my chest. “Home?” I echo quietly. “You mean back to being you and Enid's blood bank again?”

Her eyes glisten, and she covers her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Jodie, please, I—”

“Please what?” My voice rises despite the ache in my chest. “Please keep giving until there’s nothing left of me? How much more do you want me to lose?”

“Jodie,” she sobs. “You don’t understand—”

“I understand perfectly.” I take a shaky step forward, staring straight into her eyes. “I’ve been giving you and Enid my blood since I was a kid. Every time you cried and told me it shouldn’t be me, I believed you. I thought you loved me. But you only ever loved what I could give.”

She shakes her head, crying harder.

“Now Enid’s fine,” I continue, my voice breaking. “She doesn’t need me anymore. Can’t you just let me go? Please?”

More tears stream down her face, her lips trembling as she tries to make out words, I shouldn't be this harsh on my mother, I can see how much my words hurt her but, I don't want to care about anyone else right now—for once in my life, I want to care about myself.

She stretches her hands to touch me but I move back, she bites her lower lip and opens her mouth to talk but before she can answer, my father’s voice cuts through the air like a whip. 

“How dare you talk to your mother like that?”

He grabs my wrist, yanking me toward him. The sharp sting comes before I even process it. The slap rings loud in my ears, snapping my head to the side.

For a second, I can’t hear a single sound except the sharp ringing in my ear. The taste of blood fills my mouth.

“Jodie, how can you talk to Mother like that?” Enid cuts in, her voice trembling with feigned hurt. “You should be grateful to our parents. Don’t take out your anger on them.”

I snap back at her, my eyes blazing. “I have, in fact, paid dearly with my blood for every bit of care and food I’ve received from this family.”  I bite out.

My jaw clenching hard as my cheek still burning from the slap. “No, YOU should be grateful, Enid. Your survival is all thanks to me.” 

Her lips tremble as if she’s about to cry, eyes glistening with fake tears. “Jodie… so you’ve been hating me all this time?”

She moves toward me, and just as she’s almost close, she suddenly loses her balance. Before I can blink, she shoves me hard, my knees buckle, and I hit the floor hard. The sound of glass shattering follows, a cup rolling away, spilling water across the tiles.

My palm prickles with shards of glass. Before I say anything, Enid cries first. Mother gasps, rushing forward to hold her, while my father steps toward them with a concerned look.

Doesn’t anyone see that I’m the one who’s actually hurt?

Hard sobs escape my mouth, my eyes burn from the tears that keep spilling down my face, and my body shakes from how much I am trying to hold back.

Damn it! I shouldn’t be here.

Then I hear footsteps. A firm, steady sound that makes my stomach twist in dread. I know who they belong to.

I look toward the door just as Calden appears. His tall frame fills the doorway, eyes dark and an expression I can’t read. His eyes moved from me on the floor, to my father looming over me, the shattered glass, my mother, and then the crying Enid.

Great, I swear the whole world stops, and my heart shatters even more.