Julian Sterling's cheek felt numb. A few seconds passed before the pain registered.
In a stark departure from his usual habit of instinctively talking back, Julian Sterling didn't snap at his mother. Instead, his gaze fell as he said in a low, heavy voice, "Mom, go ahead and hit me again. This is all my fault. I was a poor judge of character, and that's why I've ended up in this mess."
...
"I never should have gotten involved with Jane Jacobs. You warned me so many times, telling me to focus on my life with Evelyn Grant, but I never listened. I even thought Jane was innocent and that you were just prejudiced against her."
Florence Morgan glared at him viciously but didn't move to strike him again.
'After all, he's already in this state. How could I hit him again?'
"You're a grown man now, can't you tell good from bad? Fine, so you don't understand the kinds of games women play. I warned you! But what did you do? You actually thought I was trying to break you two up!"
