Chapter 4

My mother chimed in right on cue. "That's right, Lucas. Don't be scared. We're here. Just tell us."

Lucas shot me a quick look, then took a deep breath like he was summoning courage.

"Sarah, you've been played. Jason had a girlfriend before the wedding, and he never broke up with her. He's been sneaking around with her the whole time."

My brain went white. I couldn't stop myself from shouting. "That's complete bullshit!"

"Let him talk!"

Sarah grabbed my arm and turned her icy stare on Lucas. "How do you know that? What else?"

Lucas looked at me with barely concealed smugness. A flash of cruelty flickered behind his eyes. But when he spoke, his voice dripped with fake concern.

"Jason, come on. I can't keep lying to Sarah for you anymore."

He clapped his hands. The door opened. Someone walked in.

The second I saw Yvonne Turner, my blood ran cold.

She was the woman my foster parents tried to sell me to. Fifteen years older than me. A spinster who couldn't get married.

Those animals tied me to a bed. I was a minor. They tried to force me to sleep with her. I had to smash her head open just to escape with my life.

Lucas's voice cut through the memory. "This is Jason's girlfriend. Everyone in their village knows they're together. But he never told you, did he, Sarah?"

"You're lying!"

I lunged at him and punched him in the face. I was shaking like a cornered animal.

Lucas screamed, and Sarah shoved me hard against the wall. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face inches from mine. "How much have you been hiding from me?!"

"He's lying! There's nothing between Yvonne and me!"

I fought back the flood of tears, scrambling to defend myself.

But Yvonne grabbed my hand. Her greasy, leering face split into a grin. "Jason darling, don't act like you forgot who I am just because you got rich. I remember that red mole on your ass clear as day."

Sarah's brain seemed to short-circuit. Time stopped. Then she turned slowly and backhanded Yvonne so hard she hit the floor.

Yvonne lay there, blood streaming from her nose. She looked up and saw Sarah coming toward her. She scrambled to her feet and ran.

Everyone in the room turned back to me.

I stood as straight as I could, but I couldn't stop shaking. "I have nothing to do with her. You can investigate. You can—"

Sarah slapped me before I could finish. I hit the ground. Her face was a mask of pure devastation.

"You cheated on me, Jason!"

My father turned away with a heavy sigh.

My mother didn't even try to hide her disgust. "I knew it. You've been trash since you were a kid. Lying. Dropping out of school. Sleeping around. What else are you capable of?"

In that moment, they all believed Lucas. Every single one of them.

My heart dropped into a bottomless pit. My lips parted, but no words came out.

Then something split open inside me—like a blade coming down through the top of my skull. Rage surged up from my chest. I knew I was about to do something I'd regret. I got up, panicked, and started walking.

Sarah's face darkened. She yanked me back. "Oh no you don't. Now you're embarrassed? Trying to run?"

The last thread snapped.

I got up. And then I did something that made every single one of them regret it.