I swallowed knives. “My heart has been in a cage, waiting for you. For years. Do you believe me now?”
He stared at me for a good few seconds. I felt naked, like he was reading secret ink in my soul. Then his eyes cracked and I saw inside of him. All of him.
I had to look away.
Across the ballroom, Grayson stood with his mother and Lynette next to a gorgeous recreation of the pumpkin carriage. I didn’t believe what Grayson said, even
if his eyes were cold and he gave nothing away.
So I opened my lips to mouth our word.
Neru—
West pulled me into a violent and bruising kiss. I opened my mouth on a gasp and he slammed his tongue into mine.
“My songbird,” West groaned against my lips. “My beautiful songbird, you came back to me.”
Seconds dragged on through the mud as West devoured my mouth. I wanted to rip him off my lips—I was about to, this plan be dammed, when—
“Charlotte du Lac,” Lynette gasped. “What are you wearing?”
West broke our kiss, both our eyes snapping to the staircase, and I thanked whatever god was listening for the distraction.
Charlotte had appeared at the top of the two-story flight of stairs, in silky white pajamas. Her hair was a mess, her eyes red.
Did she sleep after I left her?
“I’m afraid…” Lottie started, stumbling down a step. “I’m afraid I’ll never say what I really mean.”
Whispers rose like the crush of soft waves outside. It only took two flashes from the photographers’ cameras for Lynnette to all but threaten their lives and the entire demolition of their family’s lineage.
And then the phones came out, the clandestine shots even the wrath of Lynnette couldn’t stop.
Lottie stumbled down another two steps. “I’m afraid I’ll always love the wrong person.”
Another three steps, whispers rising into a swell. “I’m afraid the truth will stay locked inside me.”
Her eyes locked on Grayson. “GRAYSON IS NOT THE FATHER!”
She screamed it.
Then fell back onto the stairs, gripping the banister with one hand.
Fifty-One
GRAY
Silence.
Utter.
Silence.
Until my sister’s muffled laugh broke it like shattered china.
“I tried so hard,” Lottie said, voice ragged and breathy. “I tried so hard to be your wife. So many times you still went after her… I just needed to feel wanted.”
Sorrow and disgust swamped me. “Are you saying I did this? I pushed you to this?”