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"No, Mo time I stand behind Amanda one hundred percent on whatever decision she lanced over toward A at me…stunned

"Dad, I didn’t want to do this now, but I see I have no choice I’ to quit my job with the company"

"What?" Amanda and my mother said at the same ti

"I’ over your company is just not my dream" I looked at Amanda and smiled "Not our drea about?" et back in there, and ill talk about all this nonsense!"

Amanda shook her head "No You can’t tell er As soon as I finish school, I’"

My mother put her hand to her chest "You can’t randchild if you move"

"Exactly," Amanda said with a smile

"Bradley, talk some sense into your wife Tell her you ive me I’ll do whatever she asks of"What are you trying to say, Brad?"

"I’ that I’ll stand behind Amanda and whatever decision sheto pursue her drea with her--either as her husband or to be near her and the baby"

"What if she divorces you? Are you just going to pine after her and follow her like soh I think we need to leave and let Brad and Amanda work out their problems on their own," my father said as he tried to take my mother’s arm

My mother turned and looked at me "If you do this…if you leave your father’s company and follow this lowlife piece of trash around the country, I proret it You will not see a dime froet her to stop talking

"No, it’s okay, Dad Go ahead, Mo to s are more important thanthere with heropen "You didn’t like Amanda thehell because of it Well, no more I’m done Please leave now, and the next ti ahead"

I turned and went to sit back down I raised aveshit! I just stood up to my mother! Finally, after all these years, I spokethe whole way out

I sat down in the chair and put --one"

Chapter Twenty-Six

I watched Brad as he sat down in the chair When I heard hi, I couldn’t catchand to my car as fast as I could

Oh My God Now, he decides to stand up to the witch Daet away I got into er Than Ever" started playing, and I putwheel

I really have to stop listening to this song!

Just then, I heard sooing to punch her fucking lights out

I slowly looked up and saw Bryan standing there I opened the car door and got out

"Oh od, I’m so sorry I went off on him like that!" I immediately broke down into tears "I just wanted hiod…I don’t want to walk away frory with hi "I just don’t knohat to do I love him so much, but I hate him so much, too"

"I know, Amanda, and what you did was exactly what I told Brad would most likely occur"

I pulled away and looked at him "What?"

"Brad kno ht have mentally prepared himself for what just happened, but he was not prepared for it emotionally He needed to see and hear how he has hurt you He needed to see how his decision to do cocaine cost hiain…he needs to see the destruction he has caused"

"You kneould react that way?" I asked

He nodded with a weak smile "Unfortunately, it’s all part of the job"

I leaned back against my car Just then, I felt the baby move I closed my eyes and put my hand on my stomach He’s never even felt the baby move I wouldn’t let him touch me Oh, God, please help me

"A to read this letter he wrote to you He wanted to read it hih when his psycho h "Bryan, I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to call her that"

He shrugged his shoulders and s this…Jesus, I’ve never seen such a controlling parent Anyway, read the letter, Amanda He also put a CD in there for you"

He leaned down and gave ain soon"

"Good-bye, Bryan Thank you for bringing this out to ive hiot back into my car I opened the envelope, and I pulled out the CD and put it into my CD player