Chapter 330: Unwanted Words (Katelyn's POV)

(Katelyn's POV)

What did she want? Why was my 'mom' messaging me?

Mom:

You’ve destroyed this family, Katelyn. You've tarnished our family name and you've destroyed your father's reputation. You've been nothing but a burden to this family since the second they shoved you into our lives. I hope you're happy.

I stared at the screen, my mind going blank as the words seared into my brain. I read them again, then again, but they never made any more sense than they had the first time.

The words should have meant nothing to me. They shouldn't have hurt. But they did.

I felt the phone slip from my hand as my body sagged against the wall, the familiar ache of rejection and shame unfurling in my chest like some all-consuming dark shadow.

“Kate?” Tyler’s voice broke through the haze, his hand touching my shoulder gently. "You okay?”

I couldn’t answer. I just looked at him, the world blurring around me as tears prickled in my eyes.

It felt like I had been sucker-punched.

Ryder appeared on my other