Set Me Free by Daniela Sacerdoti Read Free Book Online

his features rearranged themselves into his pious, martyred look. “Well, if you want to destroy this family—”
    In a moment, and before I knew what I was doing, I’d thrown the ball of dough at him. It hit him on the shoulder and fell to the floor, bits of it strewn on his T-shirt.
    â€œWhat did you do that for! You are deranged!”
    â€œ I am destroying the family? I am?” I shouted back. The dough was on the floor, and everything was ruined, and tears began to fall from my eyes. They weren’t tears of sadness yet – those would come later – just fury.
    â€œWell, it’s you who needs a break. Not me. Not even when my mother said I had to leave you! And we wonder why Lara can’t control her temper! You are throwing stuff at me! You are mental!”
    â€œDo you love them, Ash?” I said quietly.
    â€œWhat? What are you talking about?”
    â€œDo you love our children?”
    â€œOf course I do. I do. Oh, I see what this is about. God, are you still thinking about what I said that night? I thought it was finished, but no, you have to drag it up. I was drunk. Do you understand? Drunk. I think you do, because I’ve seen you and your sister having a good time before. You don’t say stupid things when you’re drunk?”
    â€œI don’t say that I wish my children weren’t here!”
    I banged my sticky hands on the granite, and it hurt, but I didn’t care.
    â€œFor God’s sake, Margherita. You don’t realise how hard it is for me.”
    â€œFor you ?”
    â€œYes. For me. The children adore you, both of them. You’re like this little unit, the three of you, and I’m left out.” He spread his arms. “Lara is so difficult, and Leo doesn’t even like me. I’m always working, trying to earn a living. My parents hate you—”
    â€œYour parents hate me for no good reason except they think I’m not good enough for you or for them! Lara is difficult because her birth mum died and her father beat her up, Ash! What do you want us to do? Return her, like damaged goods? What do you want me to do? Go and beg your mother to finally accept me?”
    The bitterness of those words made the back of my throat burn.
    â€œYou turned Leo against me—”
    â€œHow can you say that! How can you say it’s my fault if you and Leo have no relationship to speak of! Leo is a clever little boy and he knows how you’ve always felt about him. He tries to catch your attention, he tries to impress you, to make you happy . . . just like you do with your mother, can’t you see?”
    But Ash wasn’t listening any more. “You put him up to it, Margherita. Your precious little boy, he can’t have anyone else but you! You put him up to hating his father.” His mouth was twisted in a bitter curve, his eyes cold. Where was my husband? Because this man wasn’t him. Couldn’t be him.
    We just kept shouting, both of us. We threw accusations at each other until we ran out of steam and were both drained. The air was acidic with resentment. He leaned on the wall; I leaned on the kitchen island, just like Lara had after the argument at her grandma’s. I was too angry to cry, but I knew the tears would come soon; I could feel them gathering in the coldness of my heart.
    â€œWe can’t go on like this, Ash,” I said softly. “Can’t you see? Can’t you see how we need a break?”
    â€œFine.” He sounded defeated. “Fine.”
    â€œYou need to go now. I can’t take any more of this,” I whispered.
    He must have seen something on my face, something that spoke of heartbreak, because he opened his mouth to reply, and then he closed it again.
    He went upstairs without another word, and I waited in the kitchen until he came back, a suitcase by his side and a rucksack on his back.
    His eyes met mine briefly. “I’m off then.”
    I