Mom peers at me, first in shock, then in disappointment and horror. More of my brilliantly crafted novel turns to ash.
A chill crawls up my spine. I blurt out, "His wife is making things up. You know how Abruzzos are. Look at my arm." Tears fill my eyes again, some fake, some not. I cannot lose Brax to her. I add, "Look what she did."
"Cut the act," Brax mutters.
"Don't you speak to my daughter," Dad snaps.
"Your daughter needs help," Brax repeats.
Mom's eyes widen. "Help? What do you mean help?"
Dad shoots Brax a death glare. "He's lying. Don't listen to such nonsense."
Brax barks a humorless laugh and addresses Mom. "Skylar, please listen since your husband won't. Blue is stalking me and now my wife. She follows us, breaks into our homes, and blows up my phone even though I won't answer. I can show you the text messages."
I gasp loudly, giving it everything I've got. But the terror that spikes through me is real. I'm losing, and Ivanovs don't lose.
Mom looks at me in pure horror.
"He-he's lying," I weakly claim, because my throat is closing and my lungs won't work, and none of this is how it was supposed to go.
Dad stands taller, planting himself like a wall. "He is. If this were happening, he would have told us."
Brax says, "I didn't want to embarrass her. Or you or Skylar. I thought it was just a stupid crush that would pass."
Mom's hand flies to her mouth. Her eyes soften into worry. "Oh God."
No. No. No.
Dad's expression darkens. "Printsessa, you're not buying this?"
Mom looks between Dad and me. And then she looks at Brax. Her face falls.
"I'm not lying," Brax says softly.
Dad snarls, "Your wife?—"
"She's not the one sneaking around people's apartments," Brax fires back.
"Valentina Abruzzo?—"
"Enough!" Mom snaps.
Dad freezes.
Her lips tremble as she warns, "Don't you dare say another word about his wife."
Dad's eyes widen like she's betrayed him. But she hasn't. She's betrayingme.
Her voice shakes. "Brax has never lied to us. If this is true, Blue needs a doctor."
"What? Mom!" I cry out, chest caving in.
Mom spins toward me, grabbing my arm with trembling fingers. "How did you do this?"
My mouth hangs open. Nothing comes out. How does she see through me so easily? How does she know? How did everything crumble so fast?
"Skylar!" Dad scolds.
