56

Vivian's POV

Nate's face morphed slowly from shock to anger, his voice rising. "Why are you laughing, Vivian? Does this sound like a joke to you?”

I wiped tears from my eyes, still chuckling. "Oh, Nate. You really think you have control over me, don't you? You think you can threaten me with my mother's care and I'll just cower?"

He clenched his jaw and spat out. "I'm not threatening you, Vivian. I'm telling you the way it is."

I laughed again, a cold, mirthless sound. "You're not telling me anything, Nate. You're trying to control me, but it won't work. There's nothing you can do to stop me from leaving, from quitting my job, from living my life the way I want to."

He gritted his teeth, trying hard to control himself. "Is that so? Well, we'll see about that."

I smiled, a fierce glint in my eye. "Yes, we will. But for now, I'm done with this conversation.”

“We're only done when I say we are done.” He bellowed in anger.

I gave him a scanty look, my eyes scanning his furious face with a