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Layla grimaces, her mouth down-turned, her body emanating pure vitriol. I move back towards the safety of my old room, but her eyes flicker upwards, spotting me, and a look of satisfaction overtakes her face.
She jerks her chin upwards, and the North’s turn to follow her line of vision. “And I suppose you thinkshewould be a better mother forourchild, Cade?”
Tears sting my eyes at the animosity in her tone—not for me, but for her own child—and I can feel my nostrils flare as I inhale sharply.
As I blink rapidly in an attempt to repel the tears, my eyes zone in on Caden. He sends me a small comforting half-smile before turning back to his ex-wife. “It’s not about who’s better, Layla. It’s about doing what’s best for Bella. It’s about keeping her safe. I can’t trust you with her anymore. Not—”
Caden stops short when Layla throws her head back, laughing hysterically. While she’s distracted, he exchanges a look with first Sutton, who nods. Then he turns to a stony-faced Bree.
“Tell Ford I said ‘Tequila Sunrise.’” His sister nods, and then discreetly slips out of the foyer and into the kitchen beyond.
“You think your precious daughter issafewith that fuckingkiller?”
This is not how I wanted this to happen. There can be no return from this. Sutton and Clary will know that I am the reason their son is dead, and theywon’tbe as understanding as Caden.
Hadn’t that been at leastpartof the reason I’d left in the first place?
I’d been told in no uncertain terms that they’d press charges if they knew. Accident or no accident.
“Sutton, you do realise you’ve invited the woman behind your other son’s death into the fold, yes?”
The man in question looks from his son to Layla and back again, confusion predominant on his features before his eyes find mine. I swallow harshly, holding his gaze, willing this man who was like a father to me to feel my regret.
“That’s enough, Layla.” Caden’s voice is firm. Strong enough that it encourages me to pull my gaze from Suttons. To move my feet in his direction, seeking Caden’s strength.
His forgiveness.
His love.
“Oh, I get it! She told you what happened, but she put her own spin on it. Is that what she’s done?” Her eyes flick to mine. “Nicely played, Summer. Only took you fifteen years to come up with thoselies.”
And something inside of me snaps.
I square my shoulders and steel my spine as I continue descending the stairs with my eyes fixed firmly on my accuser.
“It’s not your fault my brother is dead. It was a tragic accident. There’s no room for blame here.”
Caden’s words from the night before the concert ring in my ears, and I believe them more with each step closer I get.
“Lies? Which part is the lie, Layla? The part where youknowinglygave Caden GHB, which caused him to almost drown? Or the part where you told me to fuck Archer so that he’d pull Caden from the river?”
Reaching the end of the stairs, I move past Caden and Sutton, embracing the me that has been fifteen years in the making. The me that’s strong enough to do what I need to do, regardless of the personal cost.
“I’m not the meek girl I was back then. My emotions aren’t so easily played as they were four years ago when I called you in desperation. You can’t lie your way out of things this time, Layla.”
I quirk a brow as her eyes blow wide at my insinuation, and I can feel the eyes of Caden and Sutton on me, waiting on me to elaborate. Except thatnowis not the time.
“You won’t find me as easily manipulated this time,friend.”
Layla takes a slight step backwards, and I smirk knowingly. “I thought we were friends, Layla. But being back here now has given me a perspective I didn’t have then.”
I drop my voice to a dramatic stage whisper. “News flash: I know you left Caden a letter on my behalf.”
Her face freezes, and that’s all the answer I need.
I’d suspected from my first day back, but now I know for sure. She’d been one of the only people I’d trusted the whole truth with, and she’d blatantly stabbed me in the back.
She tries to salvage the situation. “I didn’t want him to pine over you, that’s all. I wanted to ease the transition to being with me—”
