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Prologue

"Denise, you need to stop this nonsense A girl your age needs to show so so needy You are perfectly capable of keeping yourself occupied This is a big night for your father; you could try and be a little supportive" She turns her perfectly painted face back to themore of her et all that make-up on when her face never really moves Her weekly appointments at the spa take care of the wrinkles that I’ve never been able to find

"But Mother, tonight’s my chorus recital at school," I whisper meekly Even at thirteen, I know I should stand up for myself, but I just can’t seem to do that with et there?"

Before I can react, her hand cracks against rateful brat, Denise Soiven you I don’t want to hear another word fro back the wetness that rushes tomy eyes trained onbody standing behind me

"What have you done now, Denise?" My father’s deep baritone ruh the room A cold ribbon of fear snakes down er as I turn to face him

"I’m sorry, Father I just wanted to ask Mother about my chorus recital I’m supposed to be at the school in an hour" I don’t dare break eye contact with my father No one would dare He deive him my attention, but before I started middle school, I learned he didn’t deserve irl I’ve told you, extracurricular activities should be things that can further your career Things like chorus aren’t going to take you on the path to greatness First thing Monday, I want you to speak with your teachers about dropping that"

My insides seize, because I knew better than to even mention the recital, and I still did it I should just fake a sickness Monday at school For the last year, I’ve been successful in keeping my ‘fun ti They don’t want me, so they’ve never even noticed

"Ae to it, and I know this is not a point to drag my feet on

"Yes, Sir," I reply "May I be excused?" I just want to get away Away frorateful to have Who would be grateful for this? Two parents that don’t want you All thein the slu as quickly as possible, I make fast work of the maze of hallways and enter my room Only when the door closes do I let out my breath and allow h to know the difference, I’ve known that my parents don’t like me No, they don’t just ‘not like’ me… They hate me I am the accident that should have been terh I don’t even think my mother cares either way She just wants the life ardless of the fact that even her own daughter knows he is sleeping with the hired help

And my father? My father is the reason that I know you can never trust a boy Never allow one into your heart They only care about one thing and one thing only Therandfather died before he was successful in taking me away from my parents My father is as evil as they coo out with Malinda ‘I have bigger boobs than hteen-year-old sister’ Monroe

There will never be a boy in the world that can et that the only person I can count on is et away fro as fast as I can I’ve rades, and will have my pick of schools to choose fro to be a new person I a to find people to share my life with that want to be around me

But I will never, ever, trust a boy

Chapter 1

There has never been a moment in my life when I’ve felt well and truly loved Accepted and wanted My parents hadn’t wanted me I’m the accident that should have been ’taken care of’, the disgraceful child whose silence they bought After all, when you have as much money as s?

My father, Davison Bennett Roberts, III, is a third generation banker His father’s father opened up the local branch, and the rest was, as they say, history I don’t re’my mother, either He worked and worked, and when he finished he worked some more When he wasn’t at the bank, he was in his office at home And when he wasn’t consu the hot little secretary, or teller, or college co-ed slut

Always absent fro me, sometimes without his words, how un-iainst mankind, in my eyes

All the resentment that I held towards men, and my reluctance to start a relationship now, could all be traced back to the man who called hih… with all his busyness, and lack of care, he stillthe wrath of Davison Roberts, III down on e was never going to be good enough to please him The extracurricular educational clubs that I was allowed to join were never going to help oing to be enough