Page 61 of The Secret Heir Next Door

“Maybe,” I reply, turning on my heel and walking away from them, back toward the party, back toward Serena. “But it’s mine to make.”

“Uncle Logy, Uncle Logy!” Abby squeals as she comes racing into the house. “Look what Serena did!”

Abby’s brown hair has strips of bright pink hair clipped into it. My mother gasps and grabs my father’s arm.

“Are you kidding me?” she breathes. “Abby, get those out right now.”

“No!” Abby yells defiantly as she stomps her foot.

“Deirdre!” my mother screams loudly. “Look at this!”

Dee comes running into the kitchen, clearly thinking that someone is dying, and looks at my mother in shock.

“What?”

“Her hair! Look at what that wretched woman did to her beautiful hair! A little girl doesn’t need…”

“Oh jeez, Mom, lighten up,” Dee sighs. “They’re clip-ins and come right out. It’s not a big deal.”

“It’s a huge deal.”

“I don’t have time for this. It’s my daughter’s birthday and it’s the first day that she’s had nothing but joy on her face. If thatwretched womanis the cause of it, I don’t care what you say.”

Dee takes Abby’s hand, and they start to walk off. My mother reaches down and grabs a handful of the pink hair. Abby screams out as one of the pieces is ripped out. Dee whips around and looks as though she’s about to slam my mother into a wall.

Can’t say that anyone would blame her.

“Don’t you ever put your hands on my daughter again,” she hisses as she puts herself in between Abby and Mom. “You can leave now. You’re not welcome here anymore.”

“Do you see what that woman has caused?” Mom snaps at me.

“You’rethat woman, Mom. You’re the one who thought ripping out your granddaughter’s hair was a good idea,” I interject.

“Leave, now,” Dee repeats. “Don’t think I won’t call the police to have you removed and report that you put your hands on my daughter.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“I think you know I will without hesitation.”

“Let’s go,” my father says quickly as he grabs my mom’s arm.

The three of them walk out without a word. Abby runs back outside, and my sister watches as my parents and brother leave the house. She looks back at me with wide eyes, like she’s ready to cry. She looks so defeated.

“I’m proud of you.”

“I’m proud of you for standing up to them. That’s a big deal.”

“Right back at you, sis.”

“I’m tired of her telling me how to raise my kids but not attempting to have any sort of relationship with them at all. It’s infuriating. The way she talks about Abby and…I won’t stand for it any longer.”

I engulf my sister in a hug. “Well, we might have both just been booted out of the family.”

“Was that what they threatened you with?”

“Yup.”

“Do they not know you’re a billionaire?”