“If this is what it takes for you to finally understand your place, then it's worth everything,” she said coolly.
A pause.
“Growing up, you had it all—the fancy scholarship, the adoration.But this… Chase ismine,”she added, her tone laced with finality.“And you don’t get to humiliate me in front of my peers anymore.”
Her lips curved again.
“Now it’s your turn.”
We held each other's gaze, and looking into her eyes, I saw the truth.Envy waged war in her eyes and I knew that no matter what I said or did, she would never back down.
Sighing, I reached into my clutch and pulled out my phone, taking two steps toward her.My gaze was focused on the screen as I moved, unlocking it and sifting through my photos.
“It’s funny,” I started, stopping in front of her, my tone light, “that you’re so comfortable threatening to expose my secrets…” I lifted my gaze.“…when you’ve been hiding a much bigger one.”
I turned the phone toward her, and she scoffed immediately, snatching it from my hand.And it was a movie moment watching the confluence and humor fade from her expression, replaced by shock.
Silence stretched—a tight, fragile cord that could’ve snapped at any second.I didn't dare break it, letting her stew in the realization that I now had the upper hand.She swiped and another photo appeared, more damaging than the previous.
“It’s funny,” I said, nodding toward the screen still in her hand, “the damning evidence hotel cameras can pick up these days, don't you think?”
I stepped a little closer, pointing lightly at the image.
“That’s you… right?”
My finger shifted.
“And, well, my eyes might be deceiving me, but isn't that Chase’s father?”
Her grip tightened around the phone.
“Why would you be meeting Chase's father in a hotel room?”
“You could've Photoshopped this for all I know,” she snapped, her voice sharp but not nearly as steady as before.
A quiet, humorless chuckle left me.
“Sure,” I said easily.“Icouldhave, but we both know I didn't.”
“It's fake!Just like you and him.”
I shrugged slightly.“You can say whatever you want, but that doesn’t really explain the deposits in your account, does it?”
Her eyes widened, but I didn't stop.
“Or the trips.The clothes.A total lifestyle upgrade.I mean, youcould’vesold it that Chase was giving you all the stuff.Hell, maybe half of it was from Chase… which is probably how you got away with it for so long.”
Her jaw tightened, and I took another step closer.
“Does he know?Chase, I mean.Does he know that you’re sleeping with his father?That seems to be an important detail before you say your vows tomorrow.”
“Shut up,” she snapped, louder this time.“You don't know anything.”
“Because from what I can see, this has been going on for months,” I went on, my voice sharpening just slightly, ignoring the way her breathing picked up.“And can you just imagine what Chase will think when he finds out?His father, Lori?Really?”
“I said shut up!”she yelled.
“You dare to look down at me, torment me all these months withChase thisandChase that,when all you were after was a good payout.Anything to get to the big dollar sign, huh?No matter who you hurt in the process?”I shook my head slowly.“How could you be that reckless?”
