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“He’s only with you because of Drew.” The sharp intake of breath and fury in her eyes lets me know I’ve finally struck a chord. “Playing house is a fun way to pass the time. But when he’s ready for someone to stand by his side, to run his empire, he knows where I’ll be.”

I leave my back to her and finish applying my blood red lipstick. Blotting, I buy myself a few seconds, needing to hold my composure, hating myself for what I just said.

Just as I turn back toward her, she surprises us both as her palm connects with my cheek with a sharp crack.

My mouth falls open in shock as my hand attempts to relieve the sting by massaging it. Glad to see she’s finally in the fight, but I did not see that coming.

“You—” I search my mind to see what I was playing at, but come up short. The strike was sobering.

Her hands brush down her sides, and now, it’s my turn to be silent. “No, you listen to me. And listen good. Breeding and manners be damned, don’t you ever, EVER, talk about my son again.”

Marble digs into my hip as I take a step back.

“Don’t suggest he’s the only reason Piers is sticking around. Don’t pretend to care about him. Not when you’re part of the reason he didn’t know his father.”

“What are you talking about?” Reaching behind me, my hands grip the vanity for support and my mouth falls open in disbelief. How could she ever imply I would do that to Piers?

She keeps talking while I remain frozen in silence.

“That night I called, I begged to talk to Piers. I was calling to tell him I was pregnant.” Her tears start to fall. “But you told me how he forgot me, moved on. You even put him on the phone, pissed out of his mind, and he didn’t know who I was. You never told him I called. You made me believe he had moved on. With you.”

Feeling like I might faint, I lower myself to a velvet footstool while she paces.

“That’s right. It’s my fault for leaving, that’s not on you, but lying to me is. And Piers knows. It’s only a matter of time before he asks you about it.”

My eyes flick to hers. She wouldn’t.

“I pity you. Really, I do. So desperate for love and affection you’ll steal it. What was that you said? Oh yeah, when no one is looking. Well, newsflash, Scarlett. I’m looking, I’m watching, and I’ll keep seeing you and every sneaky move you make. I may not be able to get rid of you, but you can bet your arse I won’t make the mistake of turning my head again.”

I hear what she’s saying, but I’m trapped in the fog of my emotions. She blames me. She hates me. And I had no idea. Of all the mistakes I’ve made, all the dirty deeds and snarky comments, I would never have purposefully kept Drew from Piers. The echo of her accusations rings out in my mind until it becomes a deafening roar.

Picking up her mask, she stands in front of the mirror.

Ironic how roles were so quickly reversed.

Walking past me, head held high, she gets in one last dig. “Lovely party, Scarlett. You’ve really outdone yourself.”

She really thinks I’m that evil, that cruel. It’s not that I’m not capable of doing the things she’s accusing me of, I would have done just about anything to keep Piers for myself back then. Except that.

But she has a right to know she doesn’t have to stay in London. Piers needs to come clean about everything: the will and stipulations surrounding it. Willow doesn’t have to stay to gain her inheritance.

It seems Piers and I aren’t really all that different after all. He’s omitting facts to keep from losing her and Drew.

How is that any different than what I did? Unknowingly, at that.

“If you don’t believe this is about Drew, then ask him about the loophole that frees you from staying to jointly inherit,” I whisper.

She stops in her tracks. “Excuse me?”

“I take it he didn’t tell you? I warned him about keeping secrets.” I sigh.

“Go to hell.” She brushes past me. I’ve already been.

“Just ask him,” I call out as the door slams behind her and tears fill my eyes.

Deep breaths. I stare at the ceiling and blink them back. When I feel like I’ve gotten my bearings back, I stand in front of the mirror. Removing the mask to assess the damage, I see all the blood is drained from my face, except for my left cheek, which is tinged with red, where she struck me.

My mascara is still intact, from tears that never fell.