Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 36

Liana

POV

I am in a miserable mood as I walk from the bus stop to my parents' trailer. This week was much too long. The only highlight of my day was at night when Axel phoned. The trailer looks exactly as I remember it.

We might be poor, and you can say about my mother what you will, but tidiness and cleanliness are top on her priority list.

Dad put up a white picket fence in the front and Mom planted a variety of flowers. The small patch of grass is neatly trimmed.

I put the groceries down, but Leon opens the door before I can knock.

"Ah," he sneers. "The prodigal daughter has returned."

"You can also return," I say as I walk past him. "But you'll have to leave first."

The small open area room - that serves as both a dining- and living room - is also clean and tidy. Except for the area around the couch where Leon spends his every waking moment. "Mom's not here," he ignores my hint and falls onto a couch in front of the television without offering to help me with the groceries. "She's doing her nails."

"That's fine," I walk to the kitchen and start unpacking the groceries. "Where's Dad?"

"Out for a walk," Leon replies.

"Alone?" I frown as I walk to Leon. "What if something happens to him?"

"He's fine," Leon snorts. "You worry too much."

"And you don't seem to worry at all," I snap furiously.

"Don't get on your high horse," Leon gets up and glares at me. "You're not here to see what's going on. Dad is fine and you would've known if you made more of an effort to visit." "Well, excuse me for working my ass off to keep your luxurious b**t on the couch," I sneer.

"And you're failing miserable," Leon grunts. "All we had to eat this week, was pasta. One of the things Dad's supposed to cut back on."

"Nothing's stopping you from getting a job," I cross my arms in front of my chest.

"You're such a bitch," Leon hisses at me. "Why don't you rub it in a little more? I tried, okay? Nobody wants to hire a retired athlete with mediocre academic records and no experience." "Bullshit," I snap at him. "You're just too lazy to do actual work. You apply for manager positions instead of entry-level jobs."

"I refuse to flip burgers in some fast-food joint," his face distorts in anger. "I'm worth more than that."

"Such a pity," I pout. "If it weren't beneath you to earn money honestly, you could've had burgers for dinner instead of pasta." "Enough you two," Dad intervenes, and I turn around.

"Daddy," I shriek happily as I run to him and hug him tightly. Leon rolls his eyes as he looks at us before he walks out the front door. "Hey, pumpkin," he kisses me on top of my head. "Welcome home."

"How are you feeling?" I ask as I lead him to the couch.

"Healthy as a horse," he grins and takes a seat.

"Can I get you anything?" I ask eagerly. "You must be thirsty after your walk."

"Water would be lovely," he smiles, and I hurry to the kitchen.

"Here you go," I hand him the glass. "I added lemon slices."

"Lemons?" He asks in surprise.

"Yes," I take a seat next to him. "I brought groceries."

"You're a good daughter," he smiles. "Thank you."

Dad and I are in deep conversation when Mother walks in.

"Isn't this nice," Mom smiles as she joins us. "Together as a family."

"I like your nails, Mother," I smirk sarcastically. The whole time I must hear they are starving but she has money for frivolous things.

"Thanks, honey," she holds up her hands and admires her nails. "It's all thanks to the money your boyfriend send."

"What?" I frown. "I don't have a boyfriend."

"Really?" She looks surprised. "Then why would Axel send money?"

"Axel?" I gape at her. Why in the hell would he send them money? And when? It does not make any sense. "Did he send you money?"

"I just said that," she snaps at me. "Ten thousand dollars."

"Mother, no!" I explode. "You must return it."

"I will do no such thing," she snorts. "It was a gift from your boyfriend, and I accept it."

"Dammit, Mother, he's not my boyfriend," I grind my teeth not to scream the words. "He's my boss and this is not a gift, it's a loan. I'll have to repay it."

"Are you sure?" Mother looks suspiciously at me as she leans back into the couch.

"Yes, I'm sure," I sigh as I tiredly rub over my eyes. "Please, just give the money back. I don't want more debt."

"Well, sorry, I can't," she shrugs nonchalantly. "I spend it."

"All of it?" I shriek in shock.

"Yes," she replies.

"On what, Mother?" I am on the verge of tears. "Because it sure as hell wasn't food."

"I told you, Leon needed shoes," she stares at her nails. "And he had a little loan that was due."

"You settled his gambling debt with my boss' money?" I jump up. "Are you mad, woman?"

"You don't get to talk to me like that," she glares at me with eyes blazing.

"And you don't get to take advantage of people," my hands ball into fists. "Have you stopped for a moment to think how he's going to react when he learns what you did with the money?" "Who's going to tell him?" Mother raises her eyebrows. "You?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," I cross my arms in front of my chest. "I'm not jeopardizing my job with lies and deceit. I will confess to what you've done and then I'm going to repay him as fast as I can. And until I repaid the last cent, you'll have to come up with a plan to survive, because I'm not going to give you a single cent."

"You can't do that!" Mother shouts. "How are we supposed to eat?"

"You should've thought of that before you spend the money," I yell back.

"Liana, please," Dad says softly as he takes my hand. "It's a misunderstanding. Your mother didn't know."

My heart crumbles when I look at Father, but I fight against it. This time Mother has gone too far. Or maybe I am becoming selfish. This week I had a glimpse of how my life could have been if I did not bend backwards every time. "Dad, that doesn't excuse her," I say exhausted. "It's not like she doesn't know your financial situation."

"I wouldn't have made the mistake if you bothered to talk to me more often," Mom scoffs. "If I knew he was your boss and not your boyfriend, I would've known it was a loan."

"Why would you think he's my boyfriend, to begin with?" Hopelessly I throw my hands in the air.

"Because a boss wouldn't send money out of the blue, but a boyfriend will," Mom reasons.

"For fuck's sake," I groan as I sit down once more. There simply is no reasoning with her. She will replace a way to turn it around and make it your fault.

"Fine," I sigh, and Mother immediately smiles. "But things are changing from this moment on. I will send you food and one hundred dollars a week. That's all I can afford." "What?" Mother gapes at me. "A hundred dollars isn't enough."

"It has to be," I say firmly. "Because that's all I can afford."

"Liana, it's plenty," Dad smiles. "Thank you."

"Don't thank her," Mom looks at Dad with disgust before she turns to me. "I insist that you continue giving us five hundred a week like before."

"I'm not your fucking ATM," I yell and jump up when I completely lose my temper. "Either you take what I give, or you leave it."

"Watch your tone," Mother gets up and comes to stand inches from me. "Or I'll slap some manners into you."

"Go ahead, Mother," I challenge her and pull my shoulders back. "Bite the hand that feeds."

"What happened to you?" Mom's bottom lip start quivering. "You used to be such a good daughter. Now I'm ashamed of you."

Her words sting, but I fight it. If I give in now, it is over. She will demand more and more until there is nothing left.

"I'm sorry I am such a disappointment, Mother," my voice is stoic. "If only I could be more like Leon."

"He might be unemployed, but at least he respects his parents," Mother sneers.

"Wife, give her a break," Father tries to help. "She's doing her best and she ..."

"Stay out of this," Mother snaps at him. "This is your fault. You've always been too soft with her and look how she turned out."

Dad lowers his gaze and my heart breaks for him. After thirty years of marriage, he is nothing more than her puppet. He loves her and is stuck.

"I'm leaving," I hug Dad tightly.

"I love you, Daddy," I whisper in his ear.

"What about the money?" Mom asks angrily.

"I bought groceries," I avoid eye contact and sling my handbag over my shoulder. "I packed it away."

"Liana, don't you dare walk out on us," Mother threatens.

"Goodbye, Mother," I place a hundred-dollar bill on the table and walk away.

Tears stream down my face as I walk to the bus stop. This was the hardest thing I have ever done, and it feels awful. I worry about Dad and his health. I wish I could take him with me, but I know he would never leave Mother. And I hate that my efforts are not good enough for Mother. My entire life I have tried so hard to make her proud of me. To love me like she does Leon.