RICHARD

I was this close to calling her back.

My finger laid just a touch away from dialing her number, until I decided not to.

The bitch was really pushing my limits. After explicitly telling her not to end the call, she fucking did.

And of all nights, this particular night after I saved her stupid ass from being entangled with a man she did not love for the rest of her life. Without my intervention, in two weeks time she would have walked the aisle and said 'I do' whether she wanted to or not.

I still don't know why she couldn't tell her stepmom no, or even speak up against the ill treatment leveled on her by those she called stepsisters. But there had to be something other than the kindness they bestowed on her by taking her in, there had to be more to it.

Whatever it was, it was efficient. It subdued her to the very least. Perhaps I would ask the ever ready to please dowager and have that power over the blasted girl.