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“Jesus Christ,” Copper said, his tone incredulous “Years?” Now he sounded angry “Who the fuck are you?” He stared at her as though it was his first ti eyes on her

Her heart dissolved into a trillion pieces so tiny, it’d be impossible to ever repair “N-no It wasn’t—It’s not—No” Fat tears flowed in rivers down Shell’s cheeks Her brain couldn’t process as happening She could barely breathe, barely stand Reaching out, she grabbed the edge of the table to keep froht in her throat then burst forward like a dauilt poured out of her eyes and her mouth as she wept

“Just tell me it’s not true, Shell TellI want to hear out of your lying ht now” Never had he looked at her with such flat eyes or spoken to her with such a cold, loathing tone If hatred had a sound, Copper’s voice at that moment would be it

She continued to stand there, tre her head

“Copper…” Izzy started

“Telltrue,” he screaht through, leaving a huge hole When he pulled out, blood trickled from his knuckles How crazy was it that in the midst of all the chaos, Shell’s first instinct was to run to hi?

Like he’d ever accept her touch again

Through it all, Rusty’s s her life once again, and reveling in every second of it

“I c-can’t,” Shell said so low the words were barely audible

“What? Can’t hear you Is it fucking true?”

“It’s true,” she said, head hanging The dahed about a hundred pounds “But—”

“Say it louder,” Copper yelled “Fucking say it, Shell I want to hear the words out of youryou say anymore”

Her breath hitched She stared at the ht now and her insides twisted She’d done this to him Broken him Made him hate her with her choices

“Fucking say it!” he screamed

“Rusty is Beth’s father,” she whispered All she could see was that fucking s The moment the words were out of her mouth, she spun and lost her breakfast in Copper’s trash can

“Get out” Ice had returned to Copper’s tone