“Have you tried talking to her?”
I look up and find her wise, blue eyes staring down at me. She shrugs, and her eyes sparkle.
“It’s the best place to start. You don’t want to reach my age and have any regrets. Life is not a dress rehearsal. You get one shot.I wish or I justmoments, those suck, believe me. I’ve been around enough dying people throughout my career. Those are always the saddest.”
Her voice drops, and she places a hand on my shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze.
She turns back to Philip, sharing a silent message.
“Just think about it,” she says, before they both turn and walk away, leaving me sitting there, alone.
I rest my elbows on my knees and watch the waves roll up the sand.
I sip the water until it’s empty.
My muscles begin to relax, and I stand up, pulling on my t-shirt.
My mind races, searching for answers as I make my way back to the villa.
I know I promised Caleb I wouldn’t rock the boat, but bloody hell, I’m tired of all this shit.
When I enter, Kat is sitting on the sofa, curled up with a book and a half-empty glass of wine.
She looks up, her eyes hollow, and I would swear she’s been crying.
Something in my chest snaps.
“Hey,” she says, returning her bookmark to its page and closing the book. No folding down the page corner for Kathryn Frazer, even the spine of her book looks untouched.
“Hey.”
I dump my water bottle into the recycle bin before moving to the end of the bed and sitting down, my elbows resting on my knees.
I pull out the letter and toss it to one side.
Kat’s eyes follow the movement, her throat bobbing.
“We need to talk,” Kat says, before I can open my mouth.
“We do,” I agree. “But first I want to know, why? Why did you let me read it?”
Kat shrugs. “Its contents affect you as much as me, and to be honest, I’m tired of all the lies, the deception. I’ve spent sixteen years being someone else’s puppet, unwillingly dancing to their tune. It’s time I take my life back.”
“Kat—”
She may call herselfa puppet, but she went from my bed to his in a short time. My stomach roils as the thought of them together, her crying out his name as her body milked his cock.
I press my thumb and forefinger into my eye sockets, trying to ease the pressure building behind my eyes.
When I look up, Kat has schooled her features.
She opens her mouth, but it’s like her voice has lost its power. She closes it again, her posture sinking slightly.
“Kat. I don’t know what you want me to say?” I tell her truthfully.
I run a hand through my hair, resting it at the nape of my neck.
“You don’t need to say anything. It’s me who needs to apologise. To own what happened. I’m sorry I believed them over you. I’m sorry I’ve treated you the way I have. Blamed you, when you were innocent.” She shakes her head. “Not that wordscan undo any of it. Please don’t think I’m making up excuses. I’m not. I’m trying to own it.” Her hand goes to her pendant. “I believed them over you, and I’ll have to live with that choice for the rest of my life.”
