Grounded for Life After Mom Died

Because I don't hand-wash the expensive new clothes Dad buys for his illegitimate child, he blames Mom for not raising me properly. As punishment, he forces her to attend a business dinner even though he knows she's allergic to alcohol. I wait outside the hotel for what feels like forever, until I finally see Mom being wheeled out, covered by a white sheet. I grab her hand and shake her, calling her over and over, but she doesn't wake up. I get so scared that I start crying. The woman at the front desk takes me upstairs to Dad's hotel room. When I push the door open and walk in, I see him pinning his secretary, Yvonne Carlton, against the wall. Through my tears, I choke out, "Dad, I'm sorry. I'll wash all of my little brother's stuff by hand from now on. Mom fell asleep, and I can't wake her up." Dad's expression turns thunderous. He storms over and kicks me so hard I feel a rib crack. "You worthless little brat! Didn't anyone teach you to knock? All you ever do is make up nonsense. Is that what your mother taught you? Stay here and think about what you've done. You can come home when you finally learn your lesson." Then he wraps an arm around Ms. Carlton's waist and walks off with her like nothing happened. I stay with Mom for a long, long time. She doesn't wake up, even after her body turns cold. When I see Dad again a few days later, he's massaging Ms. Carlton's feet. He snarls, "You've got some nerve coming back. Where's your mother?" My voice shakes. "Mom's dead."