“I know.”
“She called you a legend,” I say quietly.“She looked up to you. Is this the legacy you want to leave behind?”
Penelope presses her lips together. When she speaks again, her voice isless certain. Less Dr. Stone, more human.
“Don’t you care about my reputation? About the family name beingdragged through mud?”
I laugh.
“There’s nothing in this world I care less about than the family name.”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to tell the truth,” I say. “Everywhere it needs to be told. I wantyou to correct the record publicly. And apologize to Sophia.”
“If I don’t?”
I look at her then—not the brilliant surgeon, not the legend.
My sister.
My hands are steady, though I can feel my pulse thumping in my throat.
“Then I won’t shield you anymore,” I say quietly. “Not from theconsequences of your choices. Not from yourself.”
She goes very still.
“You told me that everything you have, you earned,” I say, my voicesoftening as I reach for the door handle. “So go earn your legacy, Penelope.”
CHAPTER 64 – ANTONIO
I stare at Steve. What is he talking about? Ryan can’t move close to Caspian.
It can’t be happening. It can’t.
“I didn’t know there were properties available near the lake,” Ann-Sabrina says, her voice sharpening.
I struggle to breathe. The air feels thicker.
“Me neither. Rutherford was looking in East Bay at first, but then he decided the view was better closer to the lake. At least that’s what he’s been saying all over town.”
My chest coils with the oily dread snaking into my lungs.
My hands feel clammy.
Shouldn’t Caspian be back by now? What’s taking him so long?
My eyes dart around the store, clocking the fire exit.
What if Ryan’s somewhere waiting for me?
“Rutherford’s from Cove Bay,” Steve rattles on as I watch my skincuriously. Is it really vibrating or is it only my brain?
Steve turns toward me.
“Did you both go to Cove Bay High?”
“Steve,” Ann-Sabrina snaps. “Shut up. Now.”
