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She waves a hand impatiently. “Oh, sit down, Ares. You were making a mistake. You were young and short sighted, so it was understandable at the time, but I am your mother. It was my job to save you from your mistakes and put you back on the right path. If I’d told you flat out to stop seeing her, would you have listened?”

“I—”

“No, you wouldn’t have,” she continues, not letting me get a word in. “It would have pushed you even further into her arms. So I did what I had to do. For you and for this family, the way I always have done. Because I love you, and it was necessary. You had to be protected.”

“Protected from what?” I demand, practically yelling now. “What was she doing to me that was so bad?”

“She was making you forget where your loyalties were supposed to lie,” Mom snaps back. “You are a Thornton. It’s high time you remembered that.”

Even though she’s laid it all out in front of me, it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around what she’s saying. I’m just shocked, but maybe I shouldn’t be. I’ve always known that my parents would do whatever they had to do to hold on to their status and the reputation of the family, but I didn’t think my own mother would do something like this to.

I really can’t fucking believe it. All this time I’ve been holding on to this anger about what happened. I was so angry at Brynn, and the whole time she’s been as much of a victim as I have. Then when the truth came out, we assumed it was just Genevieve being dishonest and sneaky because she wanted me and was willing to destroy my relationship for her own gains, but it wasn’t just her.

It was my mother. My own fucking mother. She saw I was happy and decided that wasn’t good enough. She had to drive away one of the best things in my life and turn me so against Brynn that I wouldn’t listen to reason.

I chose my family over someone I cared about so much, and I didn’t even question it. I turned my back on her, left her to fend for herself, and I⁠—

It hits me hard that I’m doing the same thing right now.

I’m letting my fear and the pressure from my family keep me away from her. That’s the real reason I didn’t just step up and admit Brynn was at the cabin because she was with me too. I hid in the shadows, just like I did when we were young.

In all the time that we were together, despite how deeply I cared for her, I never just stood up and took ownership of that. I never stood with her and said fuck the consequences.

And now I’ve watched Tate and Callan face losing her too because everyone is still scared to fight for this. I can’t even blame Brynn for being scared. She’s on her own in this, up against her family and her career, and I haven’t been there for her. I’ve been here, worried about my family’s reputation and what people would think.

But fuck that.

Fuck. That.

I look at my mother, and for the first time I feel like I really see her. She’s so well put together, so curated to make people think she is who she wants them to think she is. Before now I never would have thought she was capable of doing something like this.

“Eight years, Mom,” I say. “Eight fucking years.”

“Don’t you swear at me, Ares Thornton. Watch your mouth in this house.”

“Fuck you. You ruined one of the last good things I had in my life, all over this stupid fucking rivalry. I’ve got news for you, Mother. No one gives that much of a fuck about it. No one cares about the Thorntons and the Carters as much as the fucking Thorntons and Carters. You did this to me and to Brynn because of some bullshit that you can’t let go of, and I’m never going to forget that.”

She gets to her feet, her eyes blazing. “I did what I had to do!”

“No, you did what you wanted to do. Just like always. And I’m done with it.”

“Ares—”

“I’m fucking done! I’m done playing this family’s games. Done getting roped into this petty fucking rivalry and all this maneuvering and trying to put the right spin on bad shit. And you know what else? Dad deserved the scandal he got caught up in. You know what helps you not get busted for tax fraud? Not doing fucking tax fraud! He was too fucking greedy and fucking cheated on his taxes, and now you’re trying to pretend like the family deserves redemption for that? He’s not even sorry he did it. Just like you’re not sorry you ruined my life. But I’m done caring what you think. I’m done trying to make you happy while shrinking myself and hiding what makes me happy. I’m done defending this family, and I’m especially done with you. Stay the fuck out of my life.”

She just stands there, gaping at me. For the first time in my life she looks lost for words.

Good. I don’t want to hear anything she has to say anyway.

I turn on my heel and stalk out, letting the front door slam shut behind me.

44

TATE

Funny how the cabin has gone from airy and spacious to cramped and quiet in just a matter of days. Even being in the kitchen isn’t enough to make things feel better, so I abandon the pot of chili I made. I can practically feel Callan brooding in his room, and the car and Ares are gone to who knows where. I decide I need to get out too.

I bundle up and then start walking from the cabin into town. It’s not a short walk, but Hope Falls isn’t big enough to be very taxing. The cold air and movement will help to clear my head. Hopefully.