Page 63 of Leafpoint Lighthouse

Lia burst into the bedroom. Her cold, calm demeanour was gone, and Lia was quite simply furious!

“Those wretched townspeople. I’m going to burn their houses down!” Lia spat as she sat next to me on the bed and wrapped her arms around me too.

That made me hiccup-laugh. “Cale and Keith were responsible. Keith keeps whipping them up.”

“He’ll pay!” Lia promised.

“Lyra!” Poppy shouted, and her footsteps thudded on the stairs. She burst in with Uncle Edmund following them. “I’m going to curse them so their hair falls out, and the men can’t get it up anymore!” she spat, and that did it. Tears turned to hysterical laughter as Poppy climbed onto the bed and hugged me from behind.

Uncle Edmund got down in front of me and wrapped all four of us up in his arms.

That simple action brought more sadness to my eyes. Mum and I had longed for this, and it was actually there all along. We just hadn’t known.

Uncle Edmund took his car and drove to the next town to fetch takeaway. He point-blank refused to buy from Penhaven. I’d calmed down after another hefty crying fit.

“How bad is social media?” I asked with dread in my stomach.

“There’re a few trolls. But most are condemning Cale and Penhaven. Some piece of work filmed it from the moment Cale confronted you. Believe me, he’s being roasted online. You, however, are very clearly the victim. Even Serena’s been tagged as the cheating whore. That old lady, her final comment got the most likes and comments.”

“That is what it looks like when you break someone,” I repeated. “I bet I looked crazy.”

“A little, but it’s understandable why.”

“I want to see it. I can’t remember everything that happened.”

“Lyra…” Lia shook her head.

“No, show me.”

They all exchanged glances before Poppy pulled her phone out and brought it up. They were incorrect about the comments. There were thousands. Lia wasn’t wrong; a good eighty per cent were nice, but there were the trolls too. Those who found pleasure in others’ misfortune.

“It’s as bad as I remember,” I stated finally.

“We are having a girls’ night. What shall we watch?” Poppy said, grabbing my hand.

“No sappy love movies,” I requested with a bitter laugh.

“No, let’s go scorched earth,” Lia agreed.

“Carrie is great for that,” Thea suggested.

“And the First Wives Club. Then we’re going to work out how to destroy Serena and Cale,” Lia added.

“Wow, Lia, you’ve got a bloodthirsty streak,” Poppy gasped.

“Nobody hurts a Jasper woman and walks away,” Lia stated.

Grinning, I put my hand out, and Lia smacked hers on top. Poppy and Thea followed, and surprisingly, a warm male hand joined us.

“I can be an honorary member,” Uncle Edmund exclaimed as the smell of food flooded the living room.

“Definitely, Uncle Edmund.” I smiled.

As I said goodbye to Lia, Uncle Edmund and Poppy left too; Thea waited. As soon as I shut the door, she headed upstairs.

“Come out, ghosties!” Thea called.

“Thea!” I hissed.