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The bitch was set out to destroy our family out of jealousy.
My heart is shattered beyond repair. The pain is excruciating, and I can't take it anymore.
As time passed, the room gradually filled with a swarm of police officers and crime technicians, bustling about and analyzing every inch of the space. Due to the room being designated as a crime scene, I was swiftly escorted to another room.
Stone tries to comfort me. "I'm so sorry, Scar, and to the rest of you. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to contact me." He hands me his card, but I'm too numb to accept it. Maverick takes the card on my behalf.
As Stone stands up, his towering figure dominates the room, and we watch as he walks away, leaving behind a trail of shattered debris for us to gather and piece back together.
FIFTY-NINE
SCAR
It has been exactly two weeks since I was discharged from the hospital.
Since the news broke of Skylar’s crimes, Mom and Dad have been grappling with the devastating reality. Dad has been showering me with an outpouring of love and affection, almost as if he is trying to make up for something he feels guilty about, even though there is no fault to be placed on him. I can feel his love and care in every embrace and every word he speaks. Despite their best efforts to stay strong, I can see the pain etched on their faces, and it breaks my heart to see them struggle with this overwhelming sense of loss.
A few days later, Stone provided us with additional information. Skylar paid off the client that went to see Dad in question to fabricate the allegations against Tiffany.
He was arrested and charged.
I was completely overwhelmed by the new information. It felt like my whole world was turned upside down and I had no idea what to do next. All I wanted was to be alone, away from everyone and everything.
Maverick sent me a message stating he would return in the morning and wanted to talk. I knew this conversation was going to happen eventually. He was hurt that I didn’t tell him about the rape. I could see it in his eyes when he left last night.
I wasn’t sure how long he would be, so I grabbed my Kindle and read until there was a soft knock at the door. I walk over to the front door, and through the peephole, Maverick stood on the porch looking like a lost puppy. Unlocking the door, I crack it open. His shoulders relax when he sees me.
"Come in," I say, opening the door wider for him to enter. His arm lightly brushes against mine when he walks past me, and I smell his soap and sandalwood deodorant. His hair looks like he ran his hands through it too many times.He looks around like he's nervous to be around me.
"You got me torn up, Tink," he says, his voice breaking.
I stand there looking at him. The regret in his blue eyes—he looks broken, like I did five years ago. I want to hold him like I wish he did the night of the attack.
He rakes his hand over his face, and a painful groan pulls from his throat. "I'm so, so sorry. I'm…" He sucks in a breath like someone punched him and he turns away. I want to run into his arms and comfort him the way he used to comfort me.
He rubs the back of his neck. “I don’t know how to make this right.”
Tears pour down my face when I see the agony in his expression; he’s torturing himself. He blames himself when he shouldn’t.
Maverick takes a step forward and pulls me into his arms. He apologizes in a whisper against my neck as I cling to him. I breathe him in, allowing the calm to take over my body.
He pulls his head back and looks down at me. “Tell me what happened.” The desperation in his tone sways me to comply.
I nod, and he closes his eyes in relief. Taking his hand, he threads his fingers in mine as I lead him to the living room. I sit on the couch while he sits on the coffee table facing me.
My brows furrow in confusion about why he’s not sitting beside me. He must see it in my face and speaks. "I want to give you my full attention."
I bob my head and begin.
"After Seth died, I started to drink. I didn't handle his death well, as you can imagine."
Without looking at him, I continue. "I met Cole at a college party. The night started great. We talked, laughed, and he filled the void that Seth left behind." This time I look at him. "What you left behind."
His expression breaks my heart, but I have to finish the story. "After that night, he asked me to return the following week, so I did. The place was more packed than the week before, so he took me to his room." I swallow the lump in my throat.
You can do this, Skittles.Seth's famous wordsrepeat in my head as I find the courage to relieve the night my innocence was taken, but the look on Maverick's face is killing me piece by piece.
I tell him every detail of the attack and what happened afterward. I leave nothing out, including Cole’s threats. When I finish, I slowly lift my head to see tears pouring down Maverick's beautiful face. His body is tense—frozen like a statue. His fists press against his thighs as if holding back his anger.
