He watched me, his mouth hanging open. “You promised to accept my answer.”
“I didn’t think you’d try to take theonlyperson in my life who I could count on to be here for me. Jasmine is my best friend. She’s family. We grew up together. I know her better than anyone, and you’re wrong, Sterling. Itwasn’ther,” I said, my voice shaking.
Sterling folded his hands behind his back. “She didn’t defendyoulike this. She said you seduced me to stay blameless.”
My eyes filled with tears. “You’re lying. She wouldn’t say that.”
Sterling hesitated. “I’m sorry, but she did.”
“Call off the investigation if this is your answer. You’re wrong,” I said.
Sterling stood with me, his mouth hanging open. “You should really listen to me, Cassian. Our relationship aside, this is serious. You could lose the inn.”
“I’ll sell the inn! I don’t care! Jasmine is more important to me.”
Sterling watched me with pity when I said so, and that angered me more than anything. He knew nothing about my relationship with her. “Just hear me out, Cass. Everything fits. Jasmine would have gone to Ezzila because she doesn’t know enough magic to cast the curse herself, and of course she knew better than to go to Willorunia. She told you to throw the rune stone back into the water because she knew what it was. The baker mentioned that the only two people from the inn she saw in town were Olive and Jasmine, and Olive doesn’t even want the money from your grandfather’s will. Your grandfather specifically bypassed Jasmine to inherit the inn in favor of you, and she told me she was jealous. She was here when we went to Dreckle, so she could have altered the curse while we were away. Your mentor wrote to advise you on protection wards, but the letter was intercepted, just like the letter I sent to the Force was intercepted. The only person who could intercept mail would be Jasmine, and when the legalers gave her a letter for you from your grandfather’s estate, she opened it immediately to read for herself. She’s guilty, Cassian! Please believe me.”
I shook my head, and a tear fell down my face. “Jasmine wouldn’t do this to me. Find someone else.”
“There is no one else. It all leads back to her.”
“Then call it off. I’ll fix it myself,” I said.
“Cassian… If I call it off, I have to leave.”
“Then leave. It was just a matter of time, anyway.”
The look on Sterling’s face broke my heart, so I looked away.
“Is that really what you want?” he asked gently.
“Is this really your answer?”
“It’s notmyanswer. It’stheanswer,” he said.
I rubbed my neck and watched the dark snow fall out the window. “I’ll set you up in another room tonight. I want this investigation over as soon as possible.”
“Does this mean we’re… done?” he asked. I had to squeeze my eyes shut to keep the tears back.
“You’re leaving me, Sterling. You were always going to,” I said.
After a stretch of silence, Sterling scoffed. “I should’ve known better than to fall for you. Of course you only liked me when you thought I could help you.”
I whipped around to glare at him. “That’s not true.”
“Then why are you telling me to leave?” he demanded.
“Because you want to arrest my cousin!” I said. “Shetold me to contact the Force! Why would she do that if she were guilty?”
“To appear innocent,” Sterling said.
“That’s crazy. You sound crazy,” I said.
“I urge you to reconsider. You’ll be in a lot of trouble if I call off the case,” Sterling said.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll figure it out,” I said.
Sterling watched me for a stretch before saying, “Fine.” He took two steps toward the door but stopped. “I almost forgot. This is for you. It’s from your grandfather.”
