---- Chapter 14 Happiness "you're only hurt partly because your mother and I spoiled her. Will you... forgive us?" My mother was looking at me, her eyes bright with anticipation. I hung my head low. "Remember that card you gave me, Mother? If I had it... If I had it sooner, none of this would've happened. What I'm trying to say is... It's too late to ask for forgiveness." They were trying to show me love, but it came far too late. I was well past that. I could live without that. "Ant, I'm tired." I lay down on the bed with my back turned to him. My mother was crying quietly. I wiped my tears away without anyone looking, but I did not change my mind. Not every apology would deserve forgiveness. Lawrence knew he was why I jumped off the ---- second floor, so he never showed his face around me again. However, he made sure Yvette paid dearly for her mistakes. I did not attend the trial. Why? I was on my way home with Anthony. I was sitting on the steps of the stairs, watching Anthony shovel the ground as he planted some flowers. "Hey, you're the one who wanted these. Why am I the one working on them?" I mused over it and jumped off the stairs. Then, I quickly pecked him on the cheek. ''There, I put in some work too." Anthony went red, and he worked harder and harder. "Mrs. Marlin called again, you know." I took out a lollipop and peeled off the wrapper with my left hand. "I'm not taking it." Thad stopped wearing that glove. My pinky had no ---- chance of going back to the way it was. I bent it too hard when I was held captive. Anthony told me I was still me, even with my imperfections. A finger alone wouldn't change that. I was still his boo. Well, no one was perfect, after all. "Honestly, I have no idea what Lawrence is thinking. He set up so many funds in your name and told the reporters he lost the love of his life because of a lot of misunderstandings." Theard the jealousy in Anthony's voice. I didn't really care what Lawrence did. "T'm Yvonne Riverson. Riverson, not Marlin. I don't care how much he's showing his affection. It's too little, too late." That pulled Anthony out of his jealousy, but he still snorted in annoyance and poked away at the soil like it was me. I tried to come up with a plan to cheer him up and