Page 135 of Golden Ruin

His.

“I just… can’t wrap my mind around how he fell for it.”

Marla reaches toward Tiffany, placing a hand on hers. “Girl, you’d be surprised how naive men can be. And think about it, he’d just nearly lost his son in the fire, he was vulnerable. In a way, Sterling was a victim in his own right. Especially if Lexi’s as manipulative as she seems.”

“I mean, seriously, Marla. Under normal circumstances, Sterling is the most anti-drama, level-headed person you’ll ever meet. But I swear, everything I’ve ever heard about Lexi came with drama attached.”

Marla’s eyes widen. “You can’t just say shit like that and stop,” she laughs. “What have you heard?”

I’ve got tunnel vision, completely unaware of any and everything other than what’s playing on my phone.

“I probably shouldn’t even mention it.”

“Or you should,” Marla cuts in. “Because this is your chance to set the record straight, tell the world what you’ve been through.”

I’m seething, wondering if Tiffany’s really this stupid, or if being baited into saying more is all part of the act.

She fidgets with the tissue in her hands, staring at it as she thinks, pretending to be torn.

And then… she fucking says it.

The last thing I expected.

“The house fire isn’t the only fire she’s been involved in.”

My entire body blazes hot, and my heart picks up speed, beating harder and faster than before. There’s only one other fire she could be talking about, and only one way she could know about it.

“She set her own father’s car on fire.”

Marla’s mouth falls open. “Whoa. Like, actually?”

Tiffany nods. “And honestly, with that sort of track record, Sterling should be a little less focused on rekindling his failed relationship, and a little more focused on finding a lawyer. A good one.”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

Tiffany takes a deep breath, biting the side of her lip before delivering the kill shot. “I think someone needs to start asking whether Jaxon is in the safest place he can be.”

With those final words, the clip ends and tears flood my eyes.

What… the actual… fuck?

If it weren’t for Jax being in the back seat, I’d lose my shit right now. But I can’t let him see me like that—unstable, out of control. So, with my hands shaking and water blurring my vision, I start the engine, replaying every single word I just ingested on repeat.

Tiffany just performed a monologue of lies to the entire listening audience, and unfortunately for me, most of them will believe her.

I’m numb the entire drive to Sterling’s house, but it feels different this time. His place had started feeling like home whether I welcomed that feeling or not. But now, it feels like I don’t fit there. Like I’m invading someone’s home, overstaying my welcome.

I glance around the cab of the truck again, thinking about the accusation that I planned all this, weaseled my way into Sterling’s world to benefit from his fame.

Using my shoulder to swipe a tear from my cheek, I fight to pull it together before Jax notices. He deserves to have a normal, peaceful life, and it’s starting to feel like blending my world with Sterling’s is threatening to take that away.

And I won’t let that happen.

Everything I’ve done, every decision I’ve made, it’s been about protecting him.

I slow down near the gate surrounding Sterling’s neighborhood, and it’s completely swarmed with paparazzi. There’s no way I can get inside unnoticed, which means it’s not safe here. But the cold reality is that no place is safe right now. They’ll be posted at Mom and Benny’s, our friends’ and family members’ homes, and with Sterling clear across the country, I’m stuck.

Reporters spot me and start shouting at the closed windows, and before Jax can notice them, I hit the gas and take off. I have no idea what to do or where I’ll go, but the one thing I’m certain of is that I have to protect my son.