This time a text message appeared across the screen.
I opened it automatically—
and froze.
Ace noticed immediately. “What is it?”
My throat tightened painfully.
“It’s from Cathy’s mom.”
Everything in the room went still.
“What’d she say?”
I swallowed hard enough to hurt.
“We need to talk.”
Fear punched straight through me.
“I can’t face her.”
Ace stepped closer until I could feel the heat coming off him.
“You don’t have to decide anything right now.”
I stared down at the message with shaking hands.
Because this—
this was real.
The truth wasn’t hidden anymore.
People were seeing it.
Believing it.
And nothing about my life was ever going to fit back into the shape it used to be.
Ace tipped my chin up gently until my eyes met his.
“This,” he said quietly, “is where you finally stop carrying it alone.”
Tears filled my eyes again.
Because for the first time—
the world was finally starting to see what really happened.
And somehow…
that was almost as terrifying as the lie had been.
16
Tessa
