The feelings are genuine. I love you, Cora.
You turned this sprinter into a marathon runner.
I became a one-woman man.
He lied.
He lied.
He lied.
Just like Ethan. Like my father.
He tricked me.
I get to the end of the hallway, a gray double door mocking me. A fire exit. Fuck, I ran the wrong way. A part of me wants to push the crash bar. The shriek of an alarm would be better than the screams in my head.
But I spoiled Marianne’s evening enough. Well, her son did.
I let out a stifled scream, but the chaos in my mind is still louder.
Calm the fuck down, Cora.
I lean against the wall, grateful that the vast space is abandoned. I stand there for what feels like several lifetimes.
The jumble of images of all the betrayals quiets down slowly at one point as I slide down to the ground.
Numb.
Disappointed.
Disillusioned.
How do we bounce back from this? What else did he lie about?
There is a minuscule part of me—an emotionally exhausted part—that believes that we had started with a lie, but the rest was real.
I always knew he was an entitled rich boy, and I fell anyway. Fuck.
He said he loved me. Just a few hours ago, hedeclared his love. It should count for something, but it almost makes the whole situation worse.
He made this relationship real while he’s been lying to me.
I groan. My mind is spinning fruitlessly. I should leave. I should take a cab straight to the airport and get the fuck out of here.
It’s not like I want to face the Stones, and especially not their golden-boy son right now. Goddammit.
The exit door opens, and two members of staff enter. One of them jerks their head, staring at me in shock.
Yeah, I’m sitting on the ground here in a several-thousand-dollar gown. A fucking Cinderella. They must think I’m drunk.
“Are you lost?” one of them asks.
I sniffle and stand up. “I am very much lost. Would you mind if I sneak out here?” I beckon my head toward the exit the other guy is still holding open.
“We shouldn’t—” he starts.
“Let her.” The other one shrugs, and her colleague opens the door wider.
