It was all a lie.
“You wanted me to marry you and weeks ago you fed me one lie after another so I’d do what you want.”
“Bethany,” he pleads with me.
“I told you I loved you and you made me feel like you loved me too.” My brow pinches together as I wipe violently under my eyes. “How could you when you knew it was all a lie?”
“Bethany, don’t. It’s not like that–”
“But it is! That’s exactly what it’s like!”
Placing both of his hands on my shoulder, he tries to console me as if he’s the man who should be doing that. “It’s over with now, it’s better now.”
“I never want to see you again.” As I speak the words, my heart splits in two. I feel it slice cleanly, seemingly fine, then bleeding out in a single beat. “I have to protect myself and you keep hurting me. You won’t stop.” I hate that my bottom lip wobbles. I hate that I believe what I’m saying. I hate that it’s the truth. “If you need me to behave some type of way, you’ll lie to me. You’ll pull strings and make me do what you say.”
My head shakes at the idea, hating what he’s done and wanting to deny it; Jase’s shakes on its own, but for different reasons I imagine, because he knows I’m telling the truth. I’m not the one who’s lied. Feeling my resolve, I push myself up off the floor, ready to leave him. Preparing to piece myself back together and lick my wounds, but he stops me with one statement.
“Marcus has Jenny.” Jase’s voice is low, the words coming from deep in his chest.
Jenny?
“How dare you.” I have no air in my lungs. No will to do anything but slap him. Hard and fast, leaving a red mark and forcing his head to whip to the side. “You don’t get to use her against me. You don’t get to manipulate me with her ever again!” I scream in his face and then clench my teeth together when he grabs my wrists as he pins me to him, restraining my elbows so I can’t hit him, so I can’t move. All I can do is look in his eyes.
“She’s still alive, Bethany,” he whispers and it’s so compelling.
I want nothing more than to believe him. To believe the liar who’s already brought shame to her memory.
“She’s dead.” A fresh flood of tears threatens to fall, but I won’t let him see them. He doesn’t get to be there for me. Not again. I pull away from his grasp, ripping my arm away so I can free myself.
The bright red handprint against his cheek is still there. “She’s alive. We have a video of her with a man after the funeral. After the trunk was discovered.”
“With Marcus?” I can barely remain upright. She’s alive. I’m so cold. A freezing wave flows over my skin. She’s alive.
Hope makes my body tremble.
“A different man. He’s dead, but we have an idea where he’s keeping her.”
“Where who is keeping her?”
“Marcus.”
I’m so confused, so consumed by questions, but one begs to be answered. “How long have you known?”
Silence. The silence is my answer.
“I have never hated you more,” I speak when he doesn’t. Swallowing thickly and feeling a spiked ball form in my throat, I continue. “You saw what that did to me. How could you watch me mourn her death…” I have to stop and breathe in deep.
“Because I love you… I didn’t want to tell you if I couldn’t save her.”
“So you can save her now?” I question him, focused on my sister before realizing what he said.
I love you.
“You’re telling me all this now because we’ve fallen apart.” I speak the unforgiving truth. “Not because you can save her.” And not because you truly love me. I keep that bit to myself.
“I’m trying. We have a plan. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for sure.”
“You’re sure she’s alive?” Jenny. My sister’s face plays in my mind and I have to cover my own. Please, God. Let her be alive.
“As of two weeks ago, yes.”
Two weeks. Two weeks is so long. Too long. Please, God.
“Will you save her for me?” I beg him, looking up at him and praying for him to do just that. Even if he doesn’t love me. Even if he lies to me a million times more until the day I can see her again. “I’ll do anything,” I confess and my voice cracks.
“I’m doing my best. It’s the first time we’ve ever tracked anything that has to do with Marcus.”
I have never felt more at his mercy and more alone than in this moment. I don’t know what to believe or what to do. It’s too much.
“I’m breaking, Jase. I can feel myself slowly breaking down and I can’t stop it. Don’t take advantage of me. Don’t do this to me. I’m not okay.”