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Georgia frowns.

“I nearly ran her over. She wasn’t throwing anything. You’re all being idiots. She’s not the mole.”

“She got a phone call this evening,” Kate says. “I listened to her talking all about the article. About rich people deserving everything they get.”

“I was talking to my ex,” Georgia says, standing. She looks furious. “And why the hell were you listening anyway?”

“Why would you be talking to your ex?” Kate asks. Then she looks at me. “Did she tell you about this?”

I shake my head. I have no idea what’s going on. “Georgia?”

She presses her lips together. “I was going to tell you after the party.”

“Honestly, Theo, I hate this as much as you do,” Kate interrupts. “But I really think you should look at the notebook…” She takes it from Alex, flips it open. “She’s been writing about the family. It’s all here. I’m telling you, she’s the mole.”

Caleb coughs out a laugh. “Jesus, Kate. That’s a stretch even for you.”

“Look at it.” She holds it out. Before I can take it, Georgia stands, snatching it from Kate. She folds her arms over it, holding it against her chest. Like she’s trying to protect it.

“This is mine,” she says to Kate, her voice wobbling. “You had no right to go through my things.”

Kate lifts a brow. “Theo’s my friend. If you’re writing about him, he has a right to know.”

“I’m not writing about him.”

“She’s writing a fucking freelance article,” I say. “You all need to back off.”

“On our family?” Alex snaps. “What a coincidence.”

Christ, I need to get her out of here. Before she gets poisoned along with everything else.

“Caleb,” I say, shooting him an imploring look.

But before I can say anything else, Georgia’s face crumples. She presses her hand against her chest like it hurts.

“Oh my God.” She lets out a breath that sounds almost like a laugh, except there’s no humor in it at all.

“I need to go,” she says. Then she pushes past me, the notebook still clutched against her chest like a shield, and rushes out of the room.

Caleb swears under his breath and goes after her.

For a second I stand there, the echo of the slamming door ringing in my ears.

Alex says something behind me, but I don’t hear it. All I can focus on is the look on her face when she walked out.

And all I can think is what a fucking idiot I am for bringing her here.

23

GEORGIA

I push through the kitchen doors, my face burning, my chest so tight I can barely breathe. The stupid notebook is still clutched against my ribs like it can protect me.

But of course it can’t.

Tears are sliding down my cheeks. I should have known. When things fall apart, I’m always the easiest person to blame. The outsider, the one who doesn’t belong.

Not good enough for my dad to acknowledge me. Not pretty enough or young enough for Patrick to stay faithful to me.