{Frank}

I couldn't stop laughing at the social media videos that were already posted on YouTube about what happened at the art exhibit. The titles of the videos of people reacting to the incident had me cracking up the most. One of the titles was: Mother slaps Daughter after finding out that she won an Art Contest!

I had just watched another video and started to work on some paperwork for my business when Delilah came barging into the room.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't you know how to knock?"

"Why the hell should I have to knock on my husband's door? And why the hell aren't you doing anything about those videos on YouTube?" Delilah growled.

"First of all, this is my office for my business and you know good and well I work from home most of the day. What if I was in a conference meeting? Last time I checked you have no say over what I can and can't do in this house," I scolded. "I'm not like your ex-husband that you can manipulate into abusing their children! And you're lucky that this mansion is well guarded or there would be protestors on our lawn day and night in an uproar about what you did to your daughter!"

"But she's my daughter! I can do whatever I please with her!" Delilah said.

I scoffed. "Not anymore because last time I checked Victoria's a grown woman and can do whatever she wants to do. She's beautiful and talented. Why do you hate her so much?"

Delilah hesitated.

I raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

She took a seat across from me at my desk and sighed, "Victoria has been one of the most difficult children I've ever had to deal with. I always wanted a daughter who would love me and get along with me and do whatever I wanted her to do. Her older sister Jenny was from a previous relationship before I married Victoria's father.

"Victoria and I never got along. She hardly did anything that I wanted her to do. Then when she failed fifth grade her father and I took her to a therapist and she was diagnosed with a couple of mental health issues. I say Victoria was being rebellious because she didn't listen to anything that I said.

"And then Howard came along. He told me in order to get Victoria to listen to me, I should break her and do whatever it takes to do so. So I started hitting her and abusing in any way I could think of. Victoria was and still is the most stubborn child ever. We argued about things often and then when Howard saw that she had a girlfriend, all bets were off. He was very homophobic and hated Victoria for that reason.

"He decided to punish Victoria by beating her and if it weren't for me she'd probably be dead. I still agree with him being homophobic because I think being gay is wrong. Victoria is a piece of trash in my eyes because she does everything wrong and makes it her mission in life just to make life difficult for her own mother.

"It's funny because she doesn't do that with her siblings though. If she starts not getting along with you I wouldn't be surprised."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "You do realize that my son is gay right? And if you ever lay a hand on him, you'll be sorry you did regardless of you being my wife. I would say that you should work on making things right with your daughter but with your attitude towards her; I wouldn't be surprised if she hates you now."

Delilah nodded. "Oh she hates me alright. Ever since Howard came into her life and I'm not changing my stance on her sexuality, not one little bit. Honestly, at this point I don't care about what she thinks, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't care about what I think. That's fine by me. I do know one thing: unless pigs fly, Victoria and I will never get along with each other."

"I see. Regardless, I think I should finally introduce myself to Victoria," I said.

Delilah snorted. "Good luck with that one."

Before she got up to leave I said, "Oh and one more thing, if you ever lay your hands on your daughter again out in public like that, I won't hesitate to call the cops."

She sighed, "Yeah I got it. But you really should do something about those YouTube videos of me."

I shook my head. "Nope. You caused the issue, you face the consequences."

"Fine then, good luck with meeting your daughter," Delilah said as she got up and left the room.

***

{Victoria}

When Walter and I got home from the art exhibit, Walter made me sit down on the couch so he could take a look at my face.

Walter frowned. "Are you going to press charges on your mother for assault? I think you should. That bruise looks ugly."

I looked over at the nearby clock. It was only 8pm and the police station closed at 10pm. "Well if we head down to the station now, there's still time to report the assault and press charges."

He nodded. "Alright then, let's go."

We were headed towards the door when it opened to reveal a very worried looking Jenny.

She gasped, "Victoria! I saw the videos on YouTube! I hope your pressing charges on that evil woman?"

I nodded. "As a matter of fact, I'm heading to the station now."

"Good," Jenny said.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

That's exactly what I did. I went down to the station and pressed charges on my mother and the police had no problems helping me with that. They even advised me to get a lawyer, which I would already have to get one anyway.

When Walter and I got home I went to bed and had a bad dream. It had been a long while since I had a dream about Wyatt.

Wyatt was my ex-fiancé and he was a piece of shit. He was abusive physically and emotionally, although he acted like a perfect little angel around my parents. So when I told my parents what was going on, of course they didn't believe me.

It wasn't until after I told my parents what was going on that Wyatt decided to keep me locked up in his basement for a little bit in order to put me in my place. He even put a dog collar around my neck as if I were a fucking dog!

It was on the night that I decided to escape when the abuse was at its worst! Wyatt had come down into the basement and beat the shit out of me and I was unconscious for a little bit and when I came to he did it again. After the second beating I woke up and a maid that worked for Wyatt, gave me a key and a way to escape him.

I left the house with nothing but the clothes on my back and moved to another state where I managed to get a job under a fake name.

I remember the last conversation that I had with Wyatt before he beat me.

"You know, the sooner you accept that we are getting married the better off you'll be!" Wyatt snarled as he looked down at me cowering in front of him.

I shook my head. "Never! The only reason I agreed to the marriage is because of Howard! And I will find a way to escape you because I changed my mind!"

Wyatt narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me? Howard is your stepdad and you will call him daddy as a sign of respect!"

I spat blood out of my mouth from the previous beating and snarled, "NEVER! I HATE HIM AND I HATE YOU!"

"Why you little-" Wyatt growled. He grabbed the baseball bat that was sitting next to the wall next to my bed.

When Wyatt started beating me that's when I woke up.

***

After I woke up, I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My reflection matched exactly how I felt. I was a hot mess. My hair looked like it had been blown a gust of wind for a bit even though I had it in a ponytail. My face still had a bruise on it from where Mom had slapped me.

I fixed my hair and splashed some cold water on my face and that seemed to help a little bit. I pulled down my shirt a little to reveal the scar that the stupid dog collar that Wyatt had me wear left. Even after these years it was still there. I remembered using a knife to cut it off and it left a small cut that I never got stitches for. I was thankful that I didn't bleed out or cut the wrong spot when I cut the collar off. I never got stitches for it hence that scar.

"Are you okay?" I turned around when I saw Walter staring at me with concern.

I pulled my shirt back up to cover up the scar and nodded. "Yeah I'm fine. I just had a bad dream."

I walked past him and sat back down on my bed. I looked over at the clock on my nightstand. It was 6am. Well at least I got some sort of sleep before I had that nightmare!

Walter sat down on the bed next to me. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I paused and then shook my head. "Not right at the moment."

"Alright then, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," He said.

I have no idea why but I started crying and it felt like a really dumb thing to do but I did it. Walter grabbed me and hugged me. "It's okay to cry when you need to. You're with me and you're safe right now."

I didn't know how long I cried for but after I finished crying I leaned on Walter. Even though I felt tired I wasn't sure if I'd be able to go back to sleep.

"Um, Walter? This is a rather stupid question but can you stay in here until I go back to sleep?" I asked.

Walter snorted. "That's not a dumb question and yes I can stay here with you until you fall asleep."

I got back underneath the covers and snuggled Walter's lap. A moment later I went back to sleep.

***

The next time that I woke up, it was noon. As I started on my regular routine I heard the doorbell ring.

Walter answered it and I heard a familiar voice that I heard at the art exhibit. "Is Victoria here?"

When I saw who was standing at the door I narrowed my eyes because it was the same person who was with my Mom at the art exhibit. "What do you want?"

The man put up his hands to show he meant no harm but I didn't care if he meant to harm me or not.

"Listen, I just want to talk," the man said.

I sighed and let the guy in. I motioned for the guy to sit down on the couch and I sat down across from him on my recliner.

"Again," I said. "What do you want?"

The man laughed, "You're not one for small talk aren't you?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

"First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Frank Randal and I'm married to your mother," the man said.

I clenched my jaw hearing that my Mom had snagged herself another rich husband really pissed me off. If anything, that woman deserves to live the most miserable life ever! She deserves to live the type of life she gave me.

I didn't even bother to compose myself. "If you're here to get me to drop the charges against her then you can go fuck off. I want nothing to do with you or whatever wonderful lifestyle you're giving my mother. I hope that when she kicks the bucket that she rots in Hell!"

"Well, your mother did say that you hated her but I didn't realize how much-" Frank started.

"Yeah the word hate is an understatement," I growled. "I'm disgusted by her, I despise her and every other word that you put in with the word hate. And since you've decided to shackle yourself to that evil woman, I want nothing to do with you!"

"But I have a business deal for you," Frank said.

I pinched the bridge of my nose trying to keep my anger in check. "If you want to talk business, give me your business card and I'll call and set up an appointment with you."

"Wow, that's awfully rude!" Frank snapped.

"Uh-huh and you're awfully rude for showing up at my house unannounced and just because you're married to the worst woman to ever be alive I have no respect for you! I don't have to show respect for you in my house!" I snarled.

Frank sighed and handed me his business card. When he stood up he shook his head in dismay. "I never thought I'd see the day where a mother and daughter hate each other to their very cores. Anyway, hopefully we can do business with each other and be civil at least. I'll see you around then."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah whatever, get out of my house and don't come back and that goes for Mom too. As of today, I disown her from being my mother. And I don't have a stepfather, I don't know you and I don't care to be family with you either."

When Frank left I made sure to slam the door on his face as hard as I possibly could.

After Frank left I was in a rage. I flipped over the couch and the recliner. I was getting ready to pick up a dish off the kitchen table and throw it when Walter stopped me. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Calm down! He's gone, calm down!"

I broke down sobbing. "I hate her! I wish she was gone! I wish she was locked up in a basement and tortured like I was. I wish…"

Walter held me in his arms trying his best to console me. No matter how hard Walter tried to console I couldn't help but get even angrier. I was feeling nothing but anger when I backed out.