My vision blurred with tears as I looked at them. How can greed make one become this… this evil?
"Wow, just wow. The two of you need a Grammy for your acting skills."
"What is wrong? Why are you crying?" Veronica asked, looking concerned.
"You're sleeping with each other," I said, my voice low but angry. "How long has this been going on? Since I married him or before?"
They both froze. Then Veronica's eyes widened and instantly filled with tears.
"Lily? W-why are you saying such horrible things? Where did you get such a terrible notion?" She covered her mouth with her hand like she was shocked at the accusation. "Joe is like a brother to me…. how could you even think that?" She started sobbing, "If you don't want me here, just say so instead of saying all this. I would gladly go to a hotel."
Jesus, she was good. If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I would have believed she was innocent.
Joe stepped toward me, his voice soft and filled with false concern. "Baby, what's going on? Why are you saying this? Are you okay? You're scaring me."
He tried to hug me. I shoved him so hard he stumbled back.
"Don't touch me!" I screamed. "You think I'm stupid?" My voice cracked, rage and heartbreak twisting together. "I know the truth, you snakes. I heard everything you said to Zack."
Joe froze, color draining from his face.
Veronica turned sharply toward him. "What is she talking about? Joe? What did you say?"
"I know everything," I hissed, my voice rising. "I know what you snakes have done. I can't believe I've been so blind."
I placed my hand on my belly and turned to Veronica, tears streaming down my face now, my voice shaking with grief. "Th.. this baby is for the both of you," I whispered. "YOURS! YOU TURN ME INTO YOUR INCUBATOR."
Veronica's lips parted in shock, but no words came out.
"Why?" I screamed, tears running down my cheeks. "Why would you do this to me? I've never done anything to either of you! I loved you both…trusted you!"
I grabbed the vase on the side table and hurled it at Joe. He ducked, and it shattered against the wall behind him.
"Lily, calm down!" he shouted, ducking. "What the hell is wrong with you? You are sounding crazy!"
"I'm DONE!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the house. "You think you can play with a Vito and get away with it?! I swear, I will destroy both of you!"
I stormed past them into the kitchen, yanked the fridge open, grabbed a bottle of water, and twisted off the cap.
Joe and Veronica chased after me.
"Where are you going?" Veronica cried. "Lily, please, you're not well; you are imagining things. Just calm down!"
"Stop acting crazy," Joe said, grabbing at my arm. "Let's sit down and talk like adults. This is just stress; you just need to rest."
I shoved him away, pulled the pill from my bag, and threw it at his stupid face hard. I felt satisfaction when the zip tore his forehead. He touched the cut, startled.
"What pills are those?" He asked, panic blooming across his face.
I just smiled and calmly popped the pills into my mouth at once and drank the water.
Joe's face twisted in horror as he rushed to me, grabbing my face and trying to force my mouth open. "Open your damn mouth! Why would you try to kill yourself?!"
"We need to get her to the hospital so they can pump her stomach!" Veronica shouted.
I shoved him away, laughing hysterically. "You think I would kill myself over you two fucking maggots?" I spit out. "No. I'm going to live and destroy you both."
Joe froze, breathing hard. "You bitch! What did you take?!" he demanded.
I kept laughing.
Veronica snatched the packet out of Joe's hand, took a photo with her phone, and searched it.
Her face went white. "Joe…" she whispered, voice trembling. "…these are abortion pills."
He turned to me, eyes wild. "YOU USELESS BITCH, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! I WILL KILL YOU!"
"THERE IT IS!" I shouted, my hands outstretched like a dramatic announcer. "FINALLY, HE SHOWS HIS TRUE COLORS."
He lunged at me, punching me hard. I gasp in surprise, falling to my hands and knees, pain exploding in my head. My vision blurred.
I tried to get up, but he kicked the side of my head hard. I collapsed to my back, feeling blood running down my face. The world spun, and my body screamed in pain.
I groaned in pain. No… I should have been smarter.
Joe's and Veronica's faces came into view, looking down at me in rage and disgust.
I tried to crawl backward, away from them, my hands slipping on the cold kitchen tiles.
Joe grabbed my hair and slammed my head into the floor.
Everything went black.