SHADOW Novel 37

Posted by admink, ? Views, Released on February 17, 2025

Chapter 30

“My hotel.” She tells me as we start walking. “We need to talk.”

As soon as we get in her hotel room, she sighs, turning to me.

“Aroha, I stopped by your house. The door was unlocked so I walked in.” She starts, “Beer cans, alcohol bottles, cigarette butts, everywhere, and your mum was asleep on the couch, an empty Vodka bottle in her hand. I knew. your mother was unfit to take care of you, but I didn’t think she was this bad.”

I rub my

ny arm out of instinct when she mentions the cigarette butts.

I was hoping she wouldn’t notice, but of course luck wasn’t on my side. It never

“Roll up your sleeve.”

I gulp. “Aunty-”

“Nevaeh Aroha, roll up your sleeve.” She says sternly.

15.

I hesitatingly pull up the sleeve of my hoodie, looking anywhere but Aunty Mila.

I hear a gast

I hear a gasp as she grabs my arm gently, inspecting the scars and cigarette burns.

“Nevaeh…” She trails off. “Honey, did she hurt you anywhere else?”

I don’t answer, biting my lip, giving her the answer she was looking for.

“Where?” She asks. “Where else did she hurt you, Nevaeh? Show me.”

I slowly pull my hoodie off, followed by my shirt, revealing the large scar going from my left shoulder to my lower abdomen.

She gasps, tears welling up in her eyes as I pull my shirt and hoodie back on, not bothering to put my hood on.

“Why didn’t you call me?” She questions, pulling me into a hug. “I could’ve done something.”

“She–She didn’t mean it.” I defend my mother. “She was drunk and stoned. She didn’t know what she was doing.”

“She shouldn’t hurt you while she’s drunk or stoned!” Aunty Mila raises her voice slightly. “She shouldn’t be getting drunk and stoned in the first place!”

“But-”

“Nevaeh, this is child abuse!” She cuts me off. “No mother should be hurting their child like that!”

Tears well up in my eyes again as I realise she’s right.

“Sweetheart, your mother needs help.” Aunty Mila starts. “She’s not fit to be looking

21:47

The Heiress’s Shadow

after you.”

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Chapter 30

I sniffle, tears rolling down my cheeks. “What’re you saying?”

“We are going to send your mother to a rehabilitation centre and you’re coming back to New Zealand with me. I’m going to adopt you so I’ll be your legal guardian until next year, when you turn eighteen.”

I swallow the lump in my throat.

I can’t leave. What about a Megan? What about Tanya and Danny? Or Max and Dylan?

What about Noah?

“But Aunty…” I trail off.

“Look, Nevaeh, as much as I want to, I can’t drop everything and move to America. Plus, you need to start

I

chemotherapy soon. I would rather you have it done back in New Zealand with Doctor McLain.” She explains. “We’re going to send your mother to a good rehabilitation centre then we’re going to go back to New Zealand, okay?”

Aunty Mila is the one who took me to the hospital when she thought something was wrong with me. If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t know that I had cancer.

“I” I cut myself off. “O–Okay…”

She smiles sympathetically, grabbing my hand.

“I’m not going to say I understand how hard this is for you, because I don’t. I just want what’s best for you.” She presses a kiss to my head. “I love you, Aroha.”

“I love you, too, Aunty.”

“Y–You’re leaving?” Megan stutters.

“Your mom’s going to rehab?” Max bites his lip.

“Your mom’s abusive?” Dylan clenches his fist.

“YOU’RE LEAVING?!” Megan shouts, standing up from my couch. “Y–You’re my best friend. You can’t leave. Who am I supposed to stay up until two in the morning and fangirl over Dave Franco with? Or rant about stupid boys while eating ice cream with?”

“Well, you can always make Dylan and Max sit through the torture.” I smile weakly. I’m not wearing my hood. What’s the point? They all know what I look like.

Megan let’s a little laugh slip as Dylan and Max start protesting.

“Wait, does Noah know you’re leaving? Never mind the fact that you’re leaving, does he know that you have, you know…cancer?” Max questions, trailing off quietly at the last word.