He Killed Me Then Loved Me novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Gold Lighter

Hallie's POV

Phillip came back at noon with his car keys in his fist and a face I did not recognize.

I was sitting on the carriage house steps. I had not gone to the diner. I had not eaten.

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

"I believe you," he said.

"I know."

"No. You don't." He sat down on the gravel, three steps below me, so that he had to look up. "I believe all of it. The lot, the pencils, my face. I believe you."

"How?"

"Because I went to my father and I asked him." His voice cracked. "I need to tell you something, and I need you to let me finish."

I nodded.

He told me everything.

He did not soften one word of what his father had said in the study.

When he got to the little girl in the back seat, he said it straight to my face. That girl was me.

I sat very still while he said it.

The garden was quiet. A bee went past the lavender. It was a bright June noon, and I could not feel the sun.

"My mother," I said.

"Yes."

"Your father killed my mother."

"He told me she came out of nowhere. I don't think that's true." Phillip's hands were fists on his knees. "He was drunk. I'm sure of it, now."

I did not cry. I felt something cold and heavy settle in my chest.

"Tell me the rest," I said.

"He's been paying you off since you were seven. The school, the house, the Christmases." He looked up. "He told me you were bleeding us for money. He said you remembered, and you were using it."

"I didn't remember anything."

"I know." His mouth twisted. "I knew that the moment I said it out loud. I've watched you for seven years, Hallie. You never asked us for a thing. You took a scholarship because you had no other way. You wore the same sweater for three winters."

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