He leans against the counter, arms crossed, waiting, and I stare out toward the garden, words heavy on my tongue.
“He heard about what I did with production, and felt the need to remind me why I’m here.”
My cousin glances sideways, warily. “And?”
“And I don’t know if I care anymore.”
The admission hangs there, but Julian doesn’t react immediately. Just nods slowly, dark eyes blinking in thought.
“That’s not new for you.”
“No. But it’s getting harder to play his game.”
I drag a hand through my hair, frustration bleeding through. “He didn’t mention pulling funding this time. I thinkNorthern Flameis safe.”
Silence stretches.
Julian watches me, then nods again, more at ease. The lines between his brows smooth out on a heavy exhale.
I let out a slow breath, too. “I’m tired of being… useful. Just a means to an end.”
“That’s a loaded sentence.”
But he knows exactly what I mean. Love is a four-letter word in our family. The only thing that matters is how every choice benefits our legacy.
“Everything is leverage. Everything is positioning. Even this.” I gesture vaguely at the tent. “Especially this.”
“And what does Taylor say about all of it?”
Her name lands hard. I drag my gaze back to Julian. He knows the PR plan was to keep my identity and ties toThe Harrington Groupa secret.
“She doesn’t know anything about any of this.”
Julian nods like he expected that.
“I don’t want her to know,” I admit. “Because everything changes when people know. It always does.”
Julian doesn’t interrupt, understanding flashing across his face, and he gives me a sad smile.
I toss my head back, eyes on the ceiling, searching for words that don’t sound as bad as they feel. “I just wanted something that was real without context attached to it.”
Blowing the air from my lungs, I stare at the ground as guilt eats away at me. Taylor’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. If anyone was going to take this information in stride, having it change nothing, it would be her.
“I shouldn’t have let it go this far.”
The silence that follows feels different. There’s a shift before I understand why. Julian’s eyes flick past me, and I spin around to see Taylor standing a few feet away.
Her big hazel eyes are locked on me
And I know.
I know exactly which part she heard.
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Everything in me goes cold as ice. My hands shake as panic and adrenaline surge through my body. I whip my head to Julian, pleading with him to step in. But he just backs away, hands raised in surrender, abandoning me without a word.
