[|]

"Mom?!"

I flinched at the angry voice of Maddy who grabbed her mother's arm and tugged her back.

"What, Maddy?" She asked in a tone that was heavy with humor.

"Stop this. You're always embarrassing me. Stop disrespecting my friends. How many times do I have to tell you that Lucas and I are just friends? Stop trying to play matchmaker with every guy that I fucking know! Also, mind your words. I came here because you and dad forced me here and I will not tolerate it if you insult my friends, especially Jackie. Do you understand?"

I felt relief at Maddy's defense and then smiled at her mother when she glared at me with hatred in her eyes. The woman has always hated me because of my friendship with her daughter and has accused me of a lot of things that I was not guilty of all because I am poor and not in their status.

"Very well then but I will be keeping my eyes on her. I don't want anything going wrong," she said and walked away, nose in the air.

Lucas wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his chest. I leaned on him and Maddy turned around, a sympathetic expression on her face.

"I am so sorry for what she said. I know how evil my mom can be so try not to be in the same room with her because I know she won't listen to a word I say," Maddy explained and smiled, her former emotions leaving her face. "Now, come on. I'll take you two inside and show you your room."

"What about our bags?" I asked and pointed at the car.

"Forget about them, a maid will bring them in. Come on, let's go inside."

Maddy walked on while I stood with Lucas who had not said a word or moved. I tilted my head back to look at him and he met my eyes. His eyes were empty with no emotions but his lips were pursed.

"Why is that woman talking to you like that, Jackie? If she's going to fucking disrespect you, we won't be staying for any fucking event," Lucas said and took his arm off my shoulder.

"It's nothing new. Mrs. Kingston has always not liked me ever since she found out that Maddy and I are friends. According to her, I am a bad influence because I am from the slums of whatever," I said and felt the ache of her words in my heart.

"Are you sure we can stay here? Maybe we could find a hotel close by and-"

"No, that's a waste of money. I will just ignore her as much as I can," I said and placed my hands on his chest. "Now, let's go inside. Maddy's waiting for us."

I glanced in the direction where Maddy had gone and saw her waving her hand and us. I waved back and she crossed her arms, making me giggle.

"I swear, Jackie. I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting or hurting you," Lucas said in a deep voice that made me gulp at how serious he sounded.

He looked at me one last time before walking away, leaving me to my thoughts of how to either take everything Mrs. Kingston said in silence or defend myself against her.

"This won't be easy," I said, stepping forward to follow Lucas.

[|]

After taking a shower later that evening, I changed into my PJs and walked back into our guest room. I smiled when I saw Lucas sleeping on the bed, snoring softly. I walked over to him and covered his bare back then leaned down. I brushed his hair away from his forehead and kissed his cheek. He twitched a little, making me stifle my laugh.

I stepped back and grabbed two of my pills off the side table. I looked around for water but sighed when I saw none.

"Great. How do I get water when I don't remember my way around this giant house?" I asked myself and glanced at the door. "Fine."

I crossed the room and opened the door then poked my head out. The long hallway was empty and the only thing I could hear was the distant voices of people close by. With a sigh, I stepped out of the room and closed the door.

"Where are the maids when you need them?" I whispered and smiled when I saw one coming out of a room with some towels. I cleared my throat, which got her attention.

"Do you want something?" She asked in a polite voice and I nodded and then approached her.

"I need water, please. Can you get it for me?" I requested in a kind tone, not wanting to appear like I was demanding too much.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm too busy right now."

I pouted. "Okay... But can you show me the way to the kitchen?"

The maid smiled. "Sure. Just walk to the end of this hallway and take a left, you'll find another hallway. Before you reach the end, you should see the stairs leading downstairs and the kitchen will be on your right."

I exhaled in relief and thanked the maid before walking away. I quickly followed her instructions and luckily found the doors of the kitchen wide open when I got to it as there were other doors around that were closed and it had saved me from opening them one after another.

I walked into the kitchen and dropped my pill bottles on the large counter. The kitchen was so big, even bigger than the guest room we were staying in. I looked around for the fridge and found the large black equipment inside of a wall. I crossed the kitchen and opened the fridge.

There were a lot of drinks and food items that could feed a village in this fridge yet what I have seen the Kingston eat was the size of my tiny fist. I spotted the rows of bottled water and pulled one out. I shut the door of the fridge and turned around.

"Ah!" I screamed at the sight of Maddy's mother leaning against the counter with one of my pills in her hand.

"What are you doing in my kitchen?" She asked and met my eyes. "Who gave you the permission to come in here?"

I looked at the bottle in her hand and then at her face before walking over to her. I reached out to grab it but she moved her hand in a different direction, clicking her tongue in the process.

"What's this pill?" She asked and smirked, her brown eyes narrowing.

"Uh, it's for... I have a-"

"Oh, shut up. So, this is what my daughter has as a friend? A girl who gets pregnant?"

My heart dropped at her accusing tone and I felt like the ground should swallow me whole. I knew what was to come because this woman was degrading to the core.

"It's none of your business," I said and snatched the bottle from her.

"It's my business when my daughter has to walk around with a slut like you."

I clenched my hands, holding myself back from hitting her in the face.

"So, you're not only from the slums, but you go around being a prostitute and now you're pregnant? Wait, do you even know the father?" She asked then gasped. "Don't tell me you've given my daughter the responsibility of taking care of a child that most likely belongs to a druggie?"

My heart was burning from rage but I controlled myself.

"Wow. You are such a classless woman. Your mates are rich, have jobs, or are influential but look at you? At your age, you are already pregnant and leaning on my daughter for help... Wow, all you peasants do is have babies and cause the financial problems we face in the US. Do you not have a mother who teaches you not to-"

"Enough!" I said.

My anger was through the roof. I hated this woman all my life.

"Stop it!" I yelled, startling her. "I have had it with you! What is your problem with me?! What did I ever do to you? You know what? There is no difference between you and the devil. Even the devil has more class than you who will forever be under his feet. You only use your wealth which you never worked for as a shade to cover how pathetic you are deep inside you. Take away everything you have, you'll be nothing but an empty tin can."

I breathed out, feeling good about finally saying my mind to her ugly face. Her botched lips were parted in shock and her eyes wide. I smiled sweetly and brushed past her, grabbing my other pill too. As I neared the entrance of the kitchen, I almost bumped into Maddy.

"I... Maddy?"

Her face was set in a blank expression which was hard for me to tell if she had heard me disrespect her mother or not.

"Did I just hear what you said to my mother?" Maddy asked and I gulped.