Wake up

*knock knock*

'Come in.'

'Um, Edward? I mean, Mr Farrington? Can I talk to you?'

'Oh... I, well... I'm expecting someone soon. I-I don't have much time...'

'It's okay. I'll be quick. And don't worry. I'm not going to be nasty to you again.'

'Okay...'

'...I know you're scared of me and you hate me, and I don't blame you one bit for it. This won't mean much, coming from me, and I don't expect it to change your mind. I just have to say it.'

'I'm sorry for what I said to you before. I was horrible. I had no right to speak to you like that.'

'Oh, God... No, I... I understand...'

'...You had every right to do what you did to Dad. Even though I don't approve of it.'

'W-What? Really?'

'Yeah. But I'm not going to go into it all. You wouldn't want me to bring that all up again, and I don't really want to, either. I really am sorry, though.'

'...And I'm sorry for what Dad did as well. To you... and to everyone else.'

'Hazel...'

'No, don't say anything. You don't need to. I just wanted to prove I'm not evil. I've changed, okay? I'm not the person I used to be...'

'...God damn it.'

'Hi. Saraya, right? Aria's told me all about you.'

'Yeah, I am. Hi. Nice to meet you.'

'You too! I'm Topaz. Here for Brie, then?'

'That's right. Is Tate in?'

'Nope, he went to work.'

'Good. That's what I wanted.'

'I'll just have to get permission before I can let you in.'

'Hello, Brianne. Someone is here to see you. It's Saraya Greene. Uh, she's one of Tate's daughters. Okay. Go on.'

'Thanks.'

'Saraya, huh? What can I do for you?'

'Hi, Brianne. I wanted to talk to you, if you've got time for me today.'

'Sure. What about?'

'About Tate.'

'...Okay? Let's go sit down.'

'Can I get you a drink, or anything else?'

'No, I'm fine, thanks. Are the twins here?'

'Nope. I took them to daycare not long ago.'

'Ah, that's a shame. Would've been nice to meet them.'

'They're lovely kids. Marigold can be a bit shy, but she's okay once she gets used to you. They're both kinda naughty, though!'

'Awww, bless them. The thing is... they're one of the main reasons I'm here. I care about your wellbeing as well, don't get me wrong, but I'm worried about their future here.'

'...Oh. It's like that, is it?'

'Look. I'm Tate's own daughter, so I know exactly what it's like to have to live with his parenting. I lived it for eighteen painful years. People tend not to speak ill of their parents without good reason. I wouldn't be here if I didn't think it was seriously important.'

'He said you don't get along.'

'Yeah, I bet. I also bet he didn't say why. The “why” being his constant verbal and emotional abuse. I'm not the only one either. My siblings Ellis and Aria can tell the same story. So can the triplets, though you ought to know that for yourself.'

'I haven't had the chance to speak to the triplets in a long while. Roxxi and I aren't exactly on speaking terms either.'

'You know about Tate hitting Zeus though, don't you? I presume Roxxi told you about that?'

'Yeah. I know, it was fucked up and wrong, but it was a one off. Tate just lost his temper.'

'...And you think that's acceptable?'

'No, I don't, but he explained it to me. He's really sorry about the whole thing. We all make mistakes, after all.'

'Sorry, my ass. He's sorry about the consequences. Though yeah, I agree it's not the norm for him. Physical abuse isn't usually his thing.'

'He told me about how he was abused himself. He's against hitting kids. So if you think he's going to be violent to the twins, you're wrong.'

'Why are you so sure he won't “lose his temper” again?'

'Zeus is a teenager! And no, before you jump in there, I don't think it makes it any less shitty. But there's a big difference between toddlers and teenagers!'

'Those toddlers will be teenagers one day. By then, the damage will be done even if he doesn't hit them. Please, take me seriously on this. He's even worse with girls than boys. He'll kill their self-esteem. He thinks women just exist to please men. He's a total misogynist.'

'Sounds like a typical man to me. They all think they're superior and they care about their dicks, first and foremost. Sure, some might say they're feminists, they really respect women, yadda yadda, but it's just to placate their wives.'

'...What? No, that's not right. I'm married myself, you know. My husband isn't like that at all. He really does respect women. I wouldn't be with him otherwise.'

'I'm sure he tells you that. But honey, it's just a lie. Deep down, they're all the same, no matter how much they might pretend otherwise. It's just how they're made.'

'Only if they're brought up like that. Is that really what you think of men?'

'Well, I've never met anyone different.'

'...That's really sad.'

'Save it. I don't want your pity.'

'Okay, okay. Forget that. I'm sincere about what I'm saying, though. You don't know what Tate's really like. He's probably pretending to be super nice right now, but he'll change. Once he's established control over you and got you trapped here, he'll revert back to his usual self.'

'It's not like that. We're really open and honest with each other. It's a lot more refreshing than having to pretend to be all lovey and smushy. We know exactly what we want out of the relationship. He can get all the sex he wants on the side, and I do too. Because to be honest, he really doesn't do it for me in bed.'

'...That's more than I needed to know.'

'...Sorry. Forgot who I was talking to there.'

'Brianne... You really love your kids, don't you? I could tell from the way you were talking about them. You want to protect them, right?'

'Of course I do! They might be difficult sometimes but those girls mean the world to me. I wouldn't trade them for anything.'

'So please, consider what I'm saying to you. I've been Tate's daughter. You know how he treated me? He dismissed me as ugly once I was burned. Looks are the only thing that matter in a woman according to him. That's why Carmella was chosen to be sold as a bride instead of me. I was made to cook and clean for him because it was apparently my duty. He is a fucking manchild, and regardless of what you might believe, there is better out there. It doesn't have to be like this. I took his insults for years, and for a long time it left me with horribly low self esteem. I'm the lucky one, though. Aria's suffered a lot more than I have, emotionally, at least. She's still struggling with the aftermath of years of abuse. Brianne, please don't let that be your twins. Right now they're innocent and helpless. They depend on you to make the right decisions for them. And as it stands, you're letting them down by staying with Tate. Because he will destroy them.'

'...Carmella was sold as a bride?'

'You didn't know? That's one of the reasons why Roxxi fled. That, and him threatening to kill her. Like he did to my mum.'

'...Okay, I've heard enough. It's time for you to leave.'

'Brie! Promise me you'll think about what I've said?'

'Fine, fine. But you have to go now.'

'Okay... thank you.'