Burn Those Who Burned Me novel Chapter 217

Chapter 217

Chapter 11: Back to the way things used to be.

:.

A

Josie opened the door expecting it to be Christian. Instead, it was Laura. She had this weary look on her face as if she had been mentally battling something. After a few moments of silence, Josie spoke first.

“Is there something you need Mrs. Taylor?

51

Hearing Josie call her ‘Mrs. Taylor‘ made Laura’s heart ache deeply. When she first met her long lost daughter, Josie was overjoyed. Her eyes were filled with so much love and admiration. She remembered how Josie beamed knowing it was Laura she actually looked like.

“It’s so amazing! I spent years wondering what distant family member I looked like! Turns out…I look just like my mom!!”

But Laura…although she wasn’t necessarily mean to Josie….she was cold and distant. Too afraid that if she showed her biological daughter any affection; it would jeopardize the relation she had with her adoptive daughter.

Now…there was no more love, no more admiration, no more beaming. Josie looked at her as if she were a stranger in the street; and that was when she wasn’t looking at her with pure disgust.

“I was just checking on you. I noticed you were back home.”

Josie looked at Laura with a blank expression.

“I’m moving out. I’m just here to collect my things.”

Laura’s eyes widen! Moving out! To where!!! Laura looked frantically past Josie and saw her fully packed suitcase.

“Josie! Let’s not be rash!! You don’t have to do this!”

Josie looked at Laura almost laughing; did she truly not get what was going on?

“Mrs. Taylor-”

“I’m your mother!!”

Laura yelled out in a panicked frustration. She’d told herself that the whole “Mr. & Mrs.” thing was just Josie’s way of being dramatic. Wanting to hurt their feelings some; but eventually she would go back to calling them all by their formals. But now…now she was leaving?

“As I was saying Mrs. Taylor…It’s not healthy for me to be here. I have to leave.”

Josie turned around and grabbed her suitcase and bookbag; walking past Laura. As she made her way downstairs, Laura followed yelling hysterically.

1/4

17:58 Thu, Sep 25

Chapter 217

:

“Josie!!! Stop this!!! Why are you acting this way!!! Why are you being so got damn dramatic!!!”

Josie stopped walking; by now, everyone heard the commotion and made their way downstairs.

“Jesus Christ…what the hell is going on now? Is it going to be something every time she comes home?”

Jamie fussed as he made his way to the foyer. Vanessa walked behind him slowly; too afraid to get close in case Josie slapped her again. Laura ignored both children, keeping her focus on Josie.

“Josie…I have been trying to be reasonable with you. I understand you were locked up for several years. But this has gone on far enough! Why can’t you just let it go!”

Josie stared as Laura with pure disgust in her eyes, causing Laura to slightly shudder. In an eerily calm voice, Josie responded.

“What exactly are you asking me to ‘let go?”

Laura was taken aback; she hadn’t expected that to be Josie’s rebuttal.

“W–Well…what I meant…I was only asking if we could just go back to way things were. You should know…this was hard on all of us.”

By now, Christian had come into the foyer as well as Harold. Before Josie could say anything, Vanessa immediately ran next to Laura crying.

Of course. It must be ‘poor Nessie‘ time.

“Josie…I know everything is my fault!! But please don’t take it out on mom or the family! If you have to hate anyone… hate me!! I deserve it!! Maybe I should just leave the fam-”

Right on cue, everyone ran to Vanessa’s defense. Jamie of course being the first to speak.

“Why are you doing this Josie!! Nessie has been nothing but kind you! Why bully her like this!!!”

Then Harold.

“Honestly….I’ve tried to be patient with you but enough is enough! Why must you take this out on Vanessa! None of this is her fault!!!”

The scene was so absurd Josie began to laugh hysterically. Harold’s eyes darkened.

“Just what the hell is so funny!”

Josie smiled sardonically.

“If it’s not Vanessa’s fault…then by all means Mr. Taylor…point to whose fault it is?”

2/4

17:58 Thu, Sep 25

Chapter 217

:

Before Harold could say anything, Jamie spoke up…always the protector.

“What do you mean IF not Ness! How would anything be her fau-”

A

51

“Did she not hit a pedestrian at a crosswalk killing her instantly because she was driving while intoxicated? Or have you all been lying so much these past four years that you really convinced yourselves I was the one that did it?”

Jamie’s eyes widen as his face became ashen. It was true, in a way…the Taylors almost forgot it was in fact Vanessa that caused the accident.

“That was an accident! She didn’t-”

“Then why didn’t she pay for it?”

Laura and Harlod’s faces began to harden. Josie cut her eyes over to Laura.

“Is THIS what you want me to go back to? Watching all of you fawn over Vanessa and gang up on me every time she sheds a tear I had nothing to do with?”

Laura’s eyes were filled with guilt…Josie had a point…she never said anything to Vanessa and yet somehow she got all of the blame. Trying to calm the situation; she lighten her voice.

“Josie…I only met for us to go back to being a happy family.”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify