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Trying to protect us from judgement and unprovoked attacks.
It was too late.
Photographers snapped shots of us from every angle.
I was too numb to morph myself into a picture of calm and collected.
One by one, I watched in horror as my family’s dirty laundry aired out like it was no big deal. As though this wouldn’t turn into the biggest scandal our society had ever witnessed.
The staff managed to turn off the presentation, but the damage was already done. My pulse thundered like I ran a marathon and sweat gathered at the base of my throat.
Zeno hauled me to my feet, saying words I wasn’t registering. Shock had a chokehold on me and I searched the rows of seats for my mother.
When my gaze collided with her haunted one, I knew the truth.
I was not Diane Hill’s daughter.
I was her niece.
Thiswas the secret she swore to take to the grave.
The sting of betrayal assaulted my nostrils, but I held the tears at bay, refusing to break down in front of this cruel lot.
The crowd of gossip-hungry mongrels surrounding Diane Hill eyed her like a piece of meat, launching into a flurry of questions. Her fall from grace would forever be immortalized after tonight.
I didn’t care.
I didn’t care about anything except for the rage beginning to bubble inside of me.
Suddenly, we were in motion. Zeno whisked me out of the banquet hall, flanked by bodyguards pushing aside photographers and reporters.
The next time I sucked in a lungful of air, we were outside, where a valet brought over my green Lamborghini. I had no idea where the rest of the De la Croixes were, nor did I care, as I dove for the driver’s side of my car.
“Darla.” Zeno came up behind me.
I elbowed him and settled into the seat.
Wordlessly, he slipped into the passenger side and I shot out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.
“You shouldn’t be driving.” From my peripheral vision, I could see his hand flexing, reaching out for me. “Are you okay?”
Now that we were away from the banquet hall, the weight resting on my chest alleviated…and I realized something.
My husband didn’t look surprised with the revelations.
Not. One. Bit.
Without a doubt, I now knew that every secret splayed on the presentation tonight was linked to the blackmail material Zeno used when he first threatened us.
I floored the gas as I entered the highway. My knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “Did you know?”
“Elaborate.”
“Did you fucking know she wasn’t mymother?” I yelled, snapping my head towards him for two-point-five seconds to witness the regret blanketing his face.
His nostrils flared and he glanced away. “Yes.”
I let out a disbelieving laugh.
