18

Chapter 19- A Family Torn Apart

Quinn stood with a look of fear deep in her eyes as she awaited the wrath of her lover's wife. Seeing the look in Rochelle's eyes, she knew that she suspected-but now she had proof-which made things dangerous for Hudson and herself.

"You little bitch! I gave you a job when you were desperate! And what do you do? You went behind my back and screwed my husband the first chance you got!"

Quinn just remained quiet, knowing it was not only wrong but idiotic to speak at a time such as this.

"You really think that he cares about you? Huh? Just because you opened your legs for him-doesn't mean that it's love-"

"Rochelle-" Suddenly she was slapped clear across the face, causing her hair to cover her forming tears. She slowly moved her head back, to see Hudson in the hall. As Rochelle went to do it once more, he grabbed her arm.

"That's enough-"

"You have no right to tell me what I'm going to do. You have stopped me from doing everything I've ever wanted! I gave up everything for this family and the first chance you get...you take it? What about when the kids find out?"

"If you don't keep their voice down they will."

And with that comment, Quinn rounded the corner-unseen by Rochelle.

"Yes because you would hate for the to know that their father is an asshole with nothing more than opportunity and-"

"Rochelle." Hudson spoke as he spotted Olivia.

"Darling-" Rochelle attempted to show affection, only to see her daughter pull away.

"I know what they did is wrong. But Quinn is here, mom. She has...she has been there for me when no one else was. She brought me extra gym shorts when I ripped my other ones, gave me extra money that I didn't need-just because I threw a fit and she wanted to make me happy. And with Roderick...she is the best thing he has to a mother-"

"Young lady-"

"You're right. I am. And I have seen how you care more about shoes and charities then your own family. It's no wonder dad doesn't love you."

"You brought her into this?"

"She saw us." Hudson clarified.

"You turned my own daughter against me-can't you see it? She just wants the money!"

"Then why did she turn me down? I offered to pay for her school fully-no working. She could have just stayed in school-but she got kicked out, and as you remember, I wasn't the one who invited her to stay."

"You didn't object." By this point in the conversation, Olivia became uninterested and it was only Hudson, Quinn, and Rochelle left.

"You're right. I'm selfish and I admit it, but you have been pretending for yourself. The kids can see it, hell, the paper boy knows it. We lost whatever we had a long time ago and saying anything else is just a lie."

"But you didn't know this until SHE came along-"

"I think you and I both know we settled for each other-frustrated with dating, heartbreak. I won't lie about it...but with Quinn-"

"I don't want to hear it. From anyone. I swear to God if it takes a decade to do so, I will take EVERYTHING from both of you! Then you will see if you can truly survive off of love." Rochelle shot her gaze directly towards Quinn. "Why are you still here? Get the hell out of my house!"

Taking a deep breath, Quinn began to walk as Hudson went to object.

"It's okay. I'll go. You have to talk."

He nodded. "I'll talk to you later, I promise."

She nodded as she exited the house, giving Olivia a hug before carrying her stuff to a taxi outside. Deciding to stay at a hotel with the money she had leftover for the month, she chose one by the school and then worked on finding another job. But as she tried to focus, she found her mind just fell to Hudson. No matter what happened, she felt they could survive anything.

But when he said "I'll talk to you later", and six hours passed, she began to lose hope. About midnight-as her eyes just began to become closed, she got a knock on the hotel door. Pulling herself from bed, she ran to the door to find it to be him. Holding a suitcase in the hall, he gave a forced smile.

"Want some company?"