CHAPTER TWELVE

“Out,” the man said in a soft, yet stern voice. Bette looked up, bewildered. She felt her heart drop the moment she saw her father’s face.

“Daddy -”

“Out, I said!” he bellowed. Emily couldn’t even look him in the face, and neither could Bette. Both felt like they had betrayed this man and for Bette, it was several degrees worse.

“Daddy – I’ve got nowhere to go?”

“I am sure your despicable girlfriend will provide you a roof. This is your choice, Elisabeth, not mine. His voice had grown softer again and he had turned around. He was about to leave the room when he cleared his throat.

He turned back again and looked his daughter in the eyes, pure disgust visible in his brown ones that were so like hers. “I despise you, Elisabeth.”

It was worse than him slapping her, it was worse than him spitting on her. It was her father finally turning her down, being disappointed in her and not approving of her when all she had ever really longed for was some sign of affection and appreciation for this important man in her life.

She didn’t understand. She had never come home drunk – she didn’t even drink. She had never used drugs, school had never complained about her, she always got top grades. She studied hard and the only friend she ever had over was Shane – whom, granted, he didn’t like, but who had never been of any burden to him. At her holiday job, everyone was content of her and they even complimented him for his daughter. It didn’t make him proud – it was the most normal thing in the world.

“I’m so sorry,” Emily apologised. “This is my fault – I should have known-”

“No,” Bette said, tears streaming down her face, silently. “It’s not. I didn’t even know he came home today – I never really know when he does. I haven’t been careful enough.”

“Well, you barely see him. You couldn’t have expected this to happen.”

“It’s too late now,” Bette answered, getting out of the bed and putting on some random clothes, unaware of the fact that she was now dressd in Emily’s shirt. “Fucking hell! Where the hell do I have to go now?”