Amber's face flushed with embarrassment, especially in front of Renata. The woman never would have expected Bram and Max to humiliate her this badly. In front of Renata, Amber had lost every last shred of dignity. Yet once again, Amber had to force herself to endure the shame.
With what little dignity she had left, Amber put on a smile, though it was clearly forced. “She's my guest, Bram. Let her in,” she said softly.
Bram smiled sarcastically, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. “She's your guest, but this is my house, Amber. You have no right to bring anyone here without my permission. And besides...” Bram turned his gaze toward Renata, who was dressed indecently. Her skirt nearly exposed her butt, and her top was skin-tight. “Who is she showing off that skinny body for?” he continued contemptuously.
Renata's eyes widened. Her face turned bright red, shame and anger mingling together. “Don't go too far, Uncle Bram!” Renata snapped, refusing to accept the insult.
Meanwhile, Max chuckled softly when he heard his father insult Renata. He was extremely pleased with those words.
Amber heard it, but she couldn't do anything. She herself had already been humiliated so thoroughly. “Renata, go home for now. I have other things to do,” she said, dismissing her.
Renata was naturally furious. She glared sharply at Amber. “Did Aunt Amber invite me here just to humiliate me like this? Great. Just great. I'll never forget this humiliation.”
“You were trash even before anyone insulted you, Renata,” Max blurted out without the slightest hint of guilt.
“What a crazy family,” Renata muttered before leaving the house, feeling utterly humiliated.
After Renata was out of sight, Bram turned his attention back to Amber. “Don't make that mistake again, Amber,” he said. “If it happens again, I'll throw you out without mercy!”
Bram went into his room, leaving Max and Amber in silence. Max didn't care, but Amber did. She glared at the tightly closed bedroom door. “Damn it!”
“Don't swear so crudely. Dad has a point. Why did you have to invite a mistress like her into this house?” Max continued throwing out words and questions that made Amber sick. “Is she a man-worshiper too, just like you, Mom?”
Oh, no!
Amber desperately wanted to rip her son's mouth open. She also wanted to hurl a string of curses at him, but she didn't have the nerve. She was only living in that luxurious house as a dependent. Picking a fight would only get her thrown out. Amber didn't want that to happen.
“Why do you always insult me, Max? I'm the one who gave birth to you.”
“But you're also the one who abandoned us for a filthy rich old man, Mom,” Max shot back just as sharply. “Do I need to remind you of that painful truth?”
Max rose from his seat and walked straight out of the house, leaving Amber standing there frozen, her hands clenched tightly. That was always the weapon he used to silence her, and Amber had no excuse with which to refute his words.
Before Amber could even move from where she stood, Bram emerged from his room again. “Don't ever regret the change in Max, Amber. You were the one who changed him into this, and with those damn pieces of evidence on top of that, Max will become even harsher toward you,” he said softly, yet his words were enough to make Amber's body tremble.
“You may be able to fool Max, but I'm not him.” Bram sat down on the sofa and opened his laptop. “I could put you in prison, but that would be too easy for a snake of a woman like you. You need to feel what it's like to be humiliated, ostracized, and hated by your own child. I know you haven't changed, but I'm enjoying the drama of a lowlife woman like you, Amber.”