No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Seventy - Into the Spotlight

KATIE'S POV

    A fire burns in Dominick's eyes as he stands before the Wiltons. "Dominick, how nice to see you again and so soon." Mr. Wilton says unfazed. He turns to his wife, "And to answer your ridiculous question, we're here to visit our youngest daughter." 

  I can't see  their expressions but judging by Dominick's, their faces are their usual portraits of narcissistic arrogance. "You know you're not welcome or wanted here." he says. He takes a step forward, "Leave."

"Or what?" Mr. Wilton takes another step forward. "You'll actually hit me this time?" 

"No." Dominick says, "I'll-"

"Dominick, don't." I exclaim. Dominick, as if suddenly remembering I'm here, looks at me. "They're baiting you." My eyes say as I meet his and shake my head. 

  The Wiltons do a half-turn and look at me, "Well, this is quite the little reunion." Mrs. Wilton says. 

"Turn around, get back on the elevator, and go." Dominick says. 

"And miss the chance to see our poor little Aria? Would you really deny us that?"

"Without hesitation." 

 Mrs. Wilton smiles and looks at her husband. "Well, look whose all grown up now." she chuckles as she turns and looks at Dominick. "Now, how do you plan to stop us? The law isn't exactly on your side."

"Besides, you, of all people, should understand why we cherish our Aria so." Mr. Wilton adds. I shove past them and walk over to Dominick. "Let's just go." I say to him, pushing against him. "Aria will get security to escort them out." 

  Mrs. Wilton makes a small clicking sound before saying, "Katie, you really are a devoted sister."

"You don't know anything about devotion." I comment back to her, the fire inside Dominick is on the verge of breaking into a wildfire. "Dominick." I raise my voice slightly, snapping him out of his rage-induced haze. 

"The nurses will be notifying security shortly, get out before you're removed." He says to them. The two of us start around the corner.

"It must bother you, how loyal of a brother he acts to someone who isn't even his sister. There for her, but not you." Mrs. Wilton's final words stab into me like a knife, unsettling a rage inside me that I continually have to swallow down. I clench my fist and silently remind myself to never give their words any weight. They're evil, they say evil and untrue things.

~~~~~~~~

  Dominick walked me down to the front to where Mom was waiting, he asked me if I was okay. I told him I was, but he knew I was lying. I left the decision up to him on whether to tell Mom about our encounter with the Wiltons. He must have decided now wasn't the time because he didn't say anything.

  Later he texted me, to let me know he was heading home and that he'd told Aria what had happened. Aria was very upset when Dominick told her, he didn't tell her what had been said. He didn't have to, she knew their cruelty better than anyone, she apologized profusely. 

  I mindlessly scroll through my social media feed, seeing the posts I've missed since I was last online. Earlier this week, Amber posted a series of photos reminiscing on her summer vacation to Vancouver over the summer. Sharlotte posted a photo of her dog a couple days ago. Tyde posted a photo from a company lunch she previously attended. The basketball team's official social media account posted reminders about varsity tryouts and wishes everyone the best of luck as they wait for the results. Zeke posted a black-and-white photo of a polaroid picture of himself, he captioned the post with a rain cloud.