CHAPTER 6:THE LETTER

I stared at Blake.

“Why shouldn't I open it?”

He didn't answer.

That was answer enough.

I looked down at the envelope in my hands.

My name was written across it in handwriting I recognized immediately.

My mother's.

She had been away for years, but I would recognize that handwriting anywhere.

“What does my mother have to do with you?” I asked.

Blake's jaw tightened.

“Nothing.”

“Then why do you look terrified?”

“I don't.”

"You do.”

Aria stepped closer.

“Blake, what is going on?”

He looked at his sister.

“Stay out of this.”

Aria frowned.

“Excuse me?”

“I said—”

“No.”

I stepped between them.

“I'm opening it.”

Blake looked at me.

“Chloe.”

I tore the envelope open.

Inside was a single folded sheet of paper.

My hands trembled as I unfolded it.

Chloe,

If you're reading this, then you're probably wondering why I never told you the truth about Blake and his family.

My heart began beating faster.

I continued.

There are things about the past that I wanted to protect you from. But you're old enough now to know that not everything is as it seems.

I looked up.

Blake was watching me.

“Keep reading,” he said quietly.

I looked back at the letter.

Three years ago, before Blake left, I discovered something about the accident. Something his family didn't want anyone to know.

My stomach tightened.

Aria covered her mouth.

“What?”

I continued.

The person who caused the accident wasn't Blake.

I stopped.

“What?”

Blake's eyes widened.

“What did it say?”

I looked at him.

“You weren't responsible?”

He shook his head.

“No.”

I read the next line.

Blake took the blame because someone he loved was involved.

My eyes moved to Aria.

She looked just as confused as I was.

“Who?” I whispered.

The final line was short.

Ask Blake who was driving the car that night.

Silence.

I slowly lowered the letter.

Then I looked at Blake.

“You said you were driving.”

He didn't answer.

“Blake?”

His eyes closed.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he whispered—

“I lied.”

Aria stepped back.

“You lied to me too?”

Blake looked at her.

“I was trying to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?”

He looked at me.

And this time, there was no escape in his expression.

“You.”

My heart stopped.

“Me?”

He nodded.

“The person driving that night wasn't me.”

“Then who was it?”

He looked at Aria.

Her face went completely pale.

“No…”

Blake swallowed.

“Aria was driving.”

I stared at her.

My best friend.

The person I'd trusted more than anyone.

She covered her mouth.

“I didn't mean for it to happen.”

I couldn't speak.

Blake stepped toward me.

“Chloe, listen to me.”

I stepped backward.

“Don't.”

“I know what it looks like.”

“You let me believe you were responsible.”

“I had to.”

“Why?”

He looked at Aria.

Then back at me.

“Because she was sixteen.”

My eyes filled with tears.

“You sacrificed yourself for her?”

“Yes."

“And everyone let you?”

He didn't answer.

That silence told me everything.

I looked at Aria.

She was crying now.

“I was scared,” she whispered. “I didn't know what to do.”

I wanted to hug her.

I wanted to scream at her.

I wanted to leave.

Instead, I turned around.

"I need some air.”

“Chloe—”

I walked away.

I didn't hear Blake follow me.

I didn't hear Aria calling my name.

I only heard my own thoughts.

Everything I'd believed about Blake had been wrong.

He wasn't the careless, arrogant man I'd imagined.

He had taken the blame for someone else.

And somehow, that made the way I felt about him even more dangerous.

---

I reached the end of the street before stopping.

The evening air was cool against my face.

I wiped away a tear.

“Chloe.”

I closed my eyes.

Of course he'd followed me.

“Go away, Blake.”

“No.”

I turned around.

He stood several feet away.

“I need to explain.”

“You don't have to."

“Yes, I do.”

He came closer.

“I never wanted you to know.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew you'd look at me differently.”

I stared at him.

“I do.”

His expression fell.

“I don't know if that's good or bad.”

I shook my head.

“I don't either.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Blake said quietly, “There's one more thing you need to know.”

I frowned.

“What?”

He looked at me.

“The person who sent that letter wasn't your mother.”

My heart stopped.

“What?”

He pulled out his phone.

“I checked the number.”

He showed me the screen.

The message that had brought the stranger to the house had come from an unknown number.

But beneath it was another message.

I know Chloe is there. Tell her the truth before I do.

I looked at Blake.

“Who sent it?”

He stared at the screen.

Then his face changed.

“I don't know.”

My stomach tightened.

“Then how did they know where I was?”

Blake looked toward the house.

And suddenly, his voice dropped to a whisper.

“Because whoever sent that letter…”

He looked back at me.

“has been watching you since you came here.”