Page 197 of My Real Love Affair

“I can see you’re conflicted,” Summer said, sitting back. “And I understand. It’s hard to accept that you’ve been manipulated, especially by someone you care about. Trust me, I know. I went through the same thing.”

Austin told me he didn’t even know her. They had never actually dated. I could see the calculated sympathy in her expression. It wasn’t genuine, the way she’d orchestrated this entire meeting and made everything sound so reasonable while simultaneously tearing apart my entire relationship.

I realized something. I didn’t believe her. Or rather, I didn’t trust her.

There was something off about this whole thing.

Armand might be a difficult father, but did that make him a villain? Cash might have arranged something with Summer, but did that mean Austin was lying about his feelings for me?

Was I really ready to throw all of that away based on this woman’s word?

“This is a lot,” I said finally. “I need time to think about it.”

“Of course,” Summer said smoothly. “Take all the time you need. But, Melody?” She leaned forward one more time. “Don’ttake too long. I’m going public with this soon, with or without you. And when I do, you’re going to have to choose a side. The Bancrofts or yourself. Because everyone is going to know you are a prop.”

“I’m not choosing sides,” I said. “I’m choosing the truth.”

“The truth is in that envelope I gave you.”

“Maybe. Or maybe that’s just your version of the truth.”

I saw annoyance in her eyes but it was gone in an instant, replaced by that same fake sympathy.

“I understand you’re loyal to him,” she said. “That’s admirable. Just be careful, Melody. The Bancrofts have a way of destroying people who get in their way. I’d hate to see that happen to you.” She stood, leaving her wine mostly untouched. “Call me when you’re ready to talk.”

She walked away, and once again, every head turned to watch her go.

Summer wanted me to believe that Austin had used me. That everything we’d shared was a lie. But something didn’t add up. The pieces didn’t quite fit together the way she wanted them to.

And that icky feeling Cleo had warned me about? It was screaming at me now.

I needed to think things through first. Needed to figure out what I actually believed before I dragged him into this mess. I cared about Austin. I loved him. I liked his family, too—most of them. I didn’t want to see them dragged into a scandal because of a woman who felt like she missed out on a payday.

It wasn’t right.

CHAPTER 61

AUSTIN

It felt like the walls were closing in. And I could honestly say this was not my fault. I fucked up a lot. I got myself into some pretty shitty situations, but this one was not my doing. Yeah, I might have thrown a minor wrench in the initial plan, but clearly, it was never going to go the way Cash thought it was going to go.

My father walked into his study where Cash and I had been waiting and sat behind it like a king on a throne, his jaw tight, his eyes cold with fury. Cash had been cursing and pacing the room while I sat in one of the comfortable chairs. I wasn’t happy to see my brother in trouble, but I did want to ask him how it felt. I had been in trouble pretty much my whole life. He was always the golden boy. That little asshole inside me wanted to jump up and point my finger at him while dancing around and laughing.

But he was in trouble because he was trying to help me.

Even if I didn’t want his kind of help. I supposed it was the thought that counted. Even if it was a shitty thought to begin with.

I had seen my father angry before—plenty of times, usually at me—but this was different. This rage was directed at Cash.I wasn’t going to come out of this unscathed, but for now, his anger was aimed directly at my big brother.

“How did you not background check this woman thoroughly enough?” Dad asked in a voice that I knew meant he was struggling to keep from exploding.

“I did do a background check,” Cash said, his usual confidence wavering slightly. “She came back clean. Good references, no criminal record.”

“No criminal record?” Dad slid a folder across the desk. “Then explain this.”

Cash opened it, and I watched his face pale as he read. I leaned over to see what had him so rattled. Police reports. Employment records. A documented history that painted Summer Auburn as anything but the polished woman she’d presented herself as.

“She was fired from three different companies in the past five years,” Armand said, ticking items off on his fingers. “One for time theft—falsifying her hours. Another for actual theft—she was caught on camera stealing from petty cash. The third didn’t press charges, but she was escorted out by security.”