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mother and my modeling career for& well, f-for various reasons 
 No lies, and no hiding the truth, Scout murmured, trying to be gentle but also determined to
clear away all the crap. And dear God, was there a lot of crap to clear.  Ivar, your mother essentially
lived the same life you were coerced into enduring forced from one casting couch to another so the
baroness could live off her daughter s ever-increasing paychecks. And, like you, Eliane couldn t take
it because she s a decent person who was saddled with a narcissistic sociopath for a mother. She
nodded to Eliane.  Go ahead.
Eliane seemed startled by Scout s description of her mother, but she nodded gamely and
turned back to Ivar.  I ran away with a young photographer, a man by the name of Ivar Gunnar. We
were together a mere four months before I became pregnant. I had you, and together our little family
was very happy for nearly a year. Then your father was killed by a drunk driver and I had nowhere
else to turn to for help, except my mother.
 But&  Ivar frowned at her before shooting a sharp glance Scout s way.  No. This is all
wrong.
Scout shook her head.  It s not wrong. This is the truth. It s always been the truth.
 Then why was I told I was the result of a rape?
 Because Lady Albertine is the monster in this tale, not you, she responded, keeping her tone
even through sheer force of will. It cost her one hell of a lot, considering the damage the baroness had
done.  It just so happens I had your mom s permission to drop in on Lady Albertine, after I went up to
Montreal to speak with Eliane. And it was one meeting she d never forget.  I must say, despite the
stroke Lady Albertine had, that old bitch really can spin a tale when she wants to.
 You what?
 In her mind, both you and Eliane were put on this earth to serve her, did you know that? In
fact, she honestly doesn t see that she s done anything wrong by doing whatever she wanted with the
two of you, because she doesn t think of you as actual people. You re objects, and you exist for her
amusement. As such, she believes she has every right to wring you dry mentally, emotionally and
financially because she and this is a direct quote owns you.
 I always knew she was the real monster. Ivar s face twisted in disgust before he nailed her
with a hard look.  You are never to speak to her again, Scout. I will not allow her poison to touch
your life.
 Not a problem, Trouble. Lady Albertine makes my dandelion stomper look like a sweet little
angel.
Eliane frowned.  Forgive, me, but& Trouble?
 Just a nickname your son s earned for himself. Scout shrugged, before returning to Ivar s
question.  As for why Lady Albertine told you that you were the product of a rape, she did it for a
couple of reasons. One, it made you a normal, rambunctious kindergartener more manageable.
Whenever you acted up, all she had to do was mention that being a monster was in your blood, and
you d go out of your way to prove what a good boy you were. And two, it made her laugh.
He looked like he wanted to throw up.  What?
 Her words it made me laugh. Apparently it tickled her funny bone whenever she thought of
what Eliane s reaction would be if she knew her much-adored son had been told this horrible,
crippling lie. Albertine never gave a thought to the damage it would do to you. She did it because it
amused her.
 Fucking bitch, Ivar grated, then shot his mother an apologetic look.  Forgive me.
 No. She is a fucking bitch. She smiled tentatively at him, though her eyes still reflected
horror over what Scout had revealed, giving her an almost bruised look.
Ivar seemed to be of the same mind, because he inched closer to her, his face softening.  What
happened after Ivar Gunnar died and you returned to Albertine? My first memories are of growing up
in my nanny s care before Albertine took me at the age of five.
 I had you with me for the first six months while I tried to recover from your father s death a
near impossibility with that woman around. Then one day she introduced me to Rupert, the man who [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]