Her words froze me completely. My blood turned toice.

Memories I'd kept buried clawed their way to the surface,mocking me in broad daylight.

My tongue dried up instantly, sticking to the roof of my mouth.

She knew she'd hit a nerve-poked at a forbidden place. But the silence between us didn't last long.

"I'm not trying to judge you or anything, Sav. I'm certain you had your reasons. And frankly, we've all made mistakes. And I know that you regret your actions but-"

"That's enough." I held up a hand, signalling a stop. "I'd like a moment alone. Please."

She turned, facing me completely. "Hold on, are you kicking me out of your room?"

"Please, Alyssa. You've said enough."

Her lips parted like she had more to say, but the words stalled. Slowly,she stood. pinning me with a look that was half pity, half challenge.

"I don't know why you think that running away from this topic can make it go away. But it doesn't, Sav. Heck, I made a mistake. But I'm not making the subject a forbidden one. Emily is proof that I made one wrong decision in my life." She continued.

"Sometimes the only way to get closure is to face the challenge head-on. Closure takes guts. That's therapy 101."

I scoffed.′′It′S's a good thing I've never been comfortable with baríng my soul to strangers."

"Yeah. Because you hide behind jokes and sarcasm so no one sees you bleeding." She replied dryly.

She didn't get it. I wasn't bleeding. I was keeping the wound sealed shut-permanently.

"You had an affair with your professor while he was married. That doesn't mean you need to wear it like a crown of shame for the rest of your life."

I folded my hands over my knees. "You know nothing about what happened." My tone was final.

"I know enough." She insisted.

I raised a hand to announce the end of this conversation."Alyssa,please."

She nodded, as if she'd made peace with the fact that I was never going to deal with this matter the way she expected.

"I'll leave. But I just want you to know that I love you and I'm only looking out for you."

Why does everyone say that right before doing exactly what I don't want them to do?

"I don't want you to hurt yourself." She added, "And right now, that's exactly what you're doing to yourself. I'm here for you. Always. Don't forget that."

She shut the door behind her with a slam, and I could finally breathe.

I exhaled in shaky bursts. trying to calm the tremor in my hands. My chest felt like it was caught in a vrice.

She'd said it-so casually, like it was that simple.

When Roman had asked about Professor Kingston during the game.While I was caught in the clutches of pleasure, I'd found it easier to avoid the truth.

And he hadn't asked like he knew. HIe asked like someone in this house had said something to him.

And I know it's Chloe.

No one wears a smile and the matching bracelet you gave them while sliding a knife into your back... unless they're Chloe Hart.

I'm certain she's behind this treachery.

And now? I don't care what Roman says. If Chloe and Dean are individually fighting towards breaking us apart, then I'm going to serve them a taste of their own medicine.

And if she thinks she can bring up Professor Kingston to my fiancéwithout consequences? She needs to have a rethink.

I managed to carry myself up from the bed and into the bathroom to fix my appearance and look less like a ghoul and more like a person.

In the bathroom, I gripped the counter and leaned in until my reflection stared me down. My.eyes were red-rimmed, my cheeks blotchy-a portrait of weakness I refused to take into that backyard.

I splashed cold water over my face again and again until my eyes stung, as if I could wash away the tremor in my hands. I dabbed my cheeks dry with the hand towel, pressing harder than necessary.

Hair tie out. Fingers combing through until it fell loose on my shoulders.hiding the tension in my neck.

I tilted my chin up, forcing my mouth into a practiced half-smile. Not happy,not sad-untouchable.

A few deep breaths. In. Out. Shoulders back.

The trick wasn't feeling okay. The trick was looking like I'd never been knocked down at all.

When I stepped out, it wasn't Savannah the girl with a secret walking into that barbecue-it was Savannah Hart, perfectly composed and armed for battle. With a very deadly vendetta.

But the mnoment I walked out the bedroom and down the stairs,I sensed it.

I could instantly tell that something was wrong immediately I crossed the threshold.

The entire family was clustered around Lizzie's phone like it was a rare diamond. All huddled together, staring.

Except Chloe.

She was isolated in one corner, arms wrapped around herself like she was freezing. And her fiancé had his arms around her, whispering into her ears,consoling her.

From a distance, she could've passed for a grieving widow. But I knew better. My sister thrived on theatrics.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Lizzie looked up, grinning like she'd just solved world hunger. "You're not going to believe this but Bridal Luxe just posted." She held back a squeal.

My stomach turned. That was Chloe's Holy Grail. She'd been obsessing over getting them to cover her wedding.

So why the sulking? Did she not make the cut? Did they bury her in a back page spread? I bet she wouldn't be making it to the front page.

Serves her right.

"They're doing a feature," Lizzie sang, still smiling.

Chloe's voice cut in from where she stood, brittle and thin."Wait...

that's not-"

Lizzie spun the phone so we could see the screen. And there it was, in glossy, high-resolution glory:

This season, we're following the most anticipated wedding in New Hope-Savannah Hart and Roman Blackwood.

For a moment. I thought I'd misread it. Then Roman's hand brushed mine. Light, deliberate, and my pulse went electric.

Chloe's face was frozen, a perfect porcelain mask with hairline cracks threatening to split.

Well,well,well. I guess someone up above has my back after all.

There was a little moment where it looked like she was trying to lunge at me, but her fiancé was holding her back.

"Are you kidding me?" she screamed.

Every head in the yard turned.

"My wedding is the only reason they even looked at this crappy town!And now it's suddenly about you?" Her voice climbed higher, hysteria dripping off every syllable. "Who did you sleep with?! Let me guess...Roman? I bet he paid for that spot! That's why you're marrying him!"

"Chloe! Enough of this embarrassment right now!" Mom gasped.

I stayed still, my smile faint and maddening.

Her in-laws looked shocked at seeing her true form.

"You're pathetic," she spat, pointing at me with a trembling hand."You can't stand me having something you don't, so you had to steal it.Well,congratulations, Sav-you just made an enemy."

The silence that followed was thick and ugly. Somewhere in the crowd.Alyssa muttered, "Wow."

I didn't blink. "Guess I'll see you in print,Chlo."

Her face went crimson. Dean had to hold her back again when she took a step toward me.

And for the first time all day, I smiled like I'd been waiting for this moment all my life.