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“No. I’m not stopping there.” Abagail squared her shoulders even more. “This is my house, and Nicola is a guest here. You’re not. And neither is Chaya.” Nicola could hear the sneer in Abagail’s tone as she called the woman by her name. If she wasn’t here, what would she have called her? “So you will respect Nicola. In fact, you’ll respect her even outside of this house. It’s time for you to grow up, Warren. You’ve spent your entire life coddled, and you’ve grown so entitled that you couldn’t even tie your own shoes if you wanted to. Enough is enough.”

“A-are you cutting me off?” Warren stammered.

Abagail scoffed. “I probably should. But not yet, anyway. I’ll think about it going forward, but I expect you to get a job in the next four weeks. I expect you to start paying your own bills, and I expect you—like we discussed before—to actually tell Chaya’s father abouteverythingin your relationship.”

What did that mean?

Did Abagail know about the cheating? Did she know just how long Chaya and Warren had actually been together? That Nicola had been little more than an arm piece for those last few months until Warren had lost his patience and broken up with her because she wouldn’t do it for him?

God, Nicola was an idiot.

Of course Abagail knew.

This washerfamily. Not Nicola’s. And she seemed to have a very tight grasp and close understanding of exactly what—and who—her family did. Abagail was never ignorant. And Nicola needed to stop forgetting that.

Nicola grabbed the glass of wine and chugged what was left of it. Warren threw her another glare and shook his head slowly.

“Are you two sleeping together?” he asked, but it was far more an accusation than anything.

Nicola could hear the words he hadn’t said ringing through her brain. The ones she knew he wanted to say, but he was restraining himself because Abagail was in the room, and even though he wasn’t on her best side right now, he wasn’t an idiot enough to put his full asshole face forward.

Whore.

Slut.

Cunt.

He’d thrown those words at her before, whenever he wanted. Or when he was drunk and wanted to accuse her of cheating on him even when she wasn’t, and he was the one cheating. What had compelled her to stay in that relationship for so long? What had kept her there when she should have left?

Because she should have left.

So many times.

“Get out of my house.” Abagail’s voice was low, dangerous almost. She stayed standing between Nicola and Warren, keeping the line of protection in place and firm. Did she understand what Nicola was feeling? “I won’t stand for you insulting a guest of mine, or anyone for that matter. Learn some goddamned manners, Warren.”

“Aunt Abagail!”

“No. Get out.” She stepped forward, forcing Warren to take a step back.

Nicola watched with rapt attention as Abagail forced Warren to walk out of the house. She stayed right where she was, glued to the kitchen counter. It was her lifeline now, in a way she’d never expected it could be.

Closing in on herself, Nicola barely registered when the door was closed and the house stilled. She went back to chopping up the cheese and the meat for the board she was building, focusing on the one thing that she knew she could do and not screw up. At least she swore she could.

“I’m so sorry,” Abagail said as she stepped back into the kitchen. “I didn’t think…”

She trailed off, but Nicola refused to look up. She continued to cut the meat and put all her energy into that. It wasn’t until Abagail covered her hand on the knife that she stopped chopping. She removed the knife and set it to the side, reaching up and turning Nicola’s face so that they were looking at each other.

Before Abagail even had a chance to say anything, Nicola jumped in. “I’m fine.”

“It’s obvious you’re not.” Abagail caressed Nicola’s cheekbone with her thumb. “He’s gone now.”

“I know.” Nicola looked down between their bodies, focusing on her bare toes. She took a steadying breath, realizing that she needed to calm herself down. She’d been so triggered in a way that she hadn’t expected. “I’m fine. I promise.”

“Nicola…” Abagail looked deep into her eyes this time. “You never told me it was that bad.”

Nicola rolled her eyes and shook her head. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“Don’t lie to me, Nicola. We at least agreed on that, didn’t we?”