“I want to make things right.” She looked down at the floor and inhaled a shaky breath. “Brian has always been about control, money, and power, because that’s what motivates him. I let him control too much of my life because it was easier than to fight him.”
“Control you how?” I asked. She seemed sincere, but I still had my doubts.
“He used to tell me who I should date, and every man he suggested was an opportunity for him. I was so used to it that, at some point, I stopped noticing how messed up it was. I think a part of me wanted to believe he was looking out for me, when really, he was all about enriching himself. I think he was threatened by Nate.” She wiped a tear under her eye. I wanted to be more sympathetic toward her, but my brain was still processing.
She clasped her hands together, like she couldn’t keep them still. “Nate didn’t need Brian. Nate was successful, had fame, and money. I think Nate respected him because he was his agent, but he didn’t worship him as some of his other clients did, and Brianhated that. When Nate ended our relationship, Brian didn’t handle that very well. When he feels threatened, he destroys everything around him. I don’t know if he knows any other way.”
“Because everyone let him get away with it,” Callie said bluntly, stepping around the chair to confront her. “Including you, so what caused you to change your mind? As you said, this has been going on for years.”
There was a time when Callie and Lydia were friends, but after everything Lydia and Brian put Nate through, I don’t think she cared about that anymore.
She looked down at the floor. “Because Brian is getting worse, and you’re right, I spent years excusing his behavior because he was family. But now that I’m going to have my own family, I’m finally looking at things differently. I’m not asking anyone to forgive me, and honestly, I wouldn’t if I were you, but I hate what Brian is doing to him. Nate deserves peace.” Her gaze drifted over to me. “I wasn’t able to give that to him, but I hope that you can.”
She reached into her bag and pulled out a manila envelope. “Here.” She handed it to Callie.
“What is this?” she asked, staring at the envelope.
Lydia adjusted her strap on her shoulder again. “Receipts, copies of emails, text messages. Do what you want with it.”
The three of us stood there in disbelief. None of us knew what to say. Lydia was the last person I ever expected to be standing in front of us, offering to help. And the longer I stood there, the more my skepticism faded.
I still didn’t fully trust her, but I didn’t think this was all just an act either.
Callie opened the envelope. There were highlighted papers, screenshots of emails and text messages, receipts. Everything Lydia said was there.
“What is this?” She held up a copy of a deed to a property.
Lydia swallowed. I could tell how difficult this was for her. “Brian bought a house in Miami and put it in my name without my knowledge. There is a notarized statement in there saying that the signature was forged.”
Holy shit. My head snapped to Ember, who had the same expression on her face. Never in a million years did I think Nate’s ex-girlfriend would be the one to hand us the proof we needed to put an end to all this nonsense.
Callie glanced at Lydia, like she was trying to reconcile the girl she used to know with the one standing in Nate’s living room. There was anger there, but something else too.
“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel right now, but I know what this is going to cost you, so thank you.”
“I’m not sure either, but I couldn’t continue to stay quiet.” She twisted her hands in front of her. “Thanks for hearing me out.” Her gaze drifted over to me, wearing Nate’s jersey. There was guilt and sadness in her eyes. I almost felt sorry for her. Not enough to forgive her for the role she played in this, but enough to understand that she didn’t just come here to sell her brother out. She came because she couldn’t live with herself anymore. It was obvious that she cared for Nate, and weirdly, that didn’t bother me.
She walked into this house, knowing she wouldn’t be welcome here, handing over the evidence we needed about her brother, and was willing to accept whatever came of it.
That took courage, and whether anyone else in this room was ready to admit it yet or not, she just gave us what we needed to put a stop to all this.
You could hearthe roar of the stadium through the glass of the luxury box.
Normally, game days would give me a rush of excitement, even more so now that I was emotionally attached to the man playing his heart out on the field.
Music blared as the fans filled the stadium in royal blue and white colors. Yet, all I could focus on was the knot of anxiety in my stomach.
I pulled my phone out when the coach called a timeout.
I scrolled through my emails and paused when I saw the subject line from Daphene.
Nate Sandler Feature Approved.
I sat up straighter and opened it.
Becca,
The editorial staff loved the feature. It turned out excellent. You did an outstanding job. I think this is your best work yet.
