Chapter 163
I study her. “You knew?”
“It wasn’t exactly a state secret if you weren’t brainwashed.” Her voice is light, but there’s a tremble in her fingers. “Rowland’s been living with Dad’s secretary since he was born. And not just staying over full–on custody. Meanwhile, the rest of us barely get to see him a few times a year.”
–
She pauses. “And, well… he doesn’t look like Jessica. Not even a little. But he does look a lot like the woman I caught our dad making out with in his office when I was in college.”
I stare down at my shoes. “So why didn’t you say anything?”
Julie shrugs, but her hand tightens on my shoulder before dropping to her side. “Because it wouldn’t have changed anything. Nephew or brother, he’s still a kid. He didn’t ask for any of this. I love him either way.”
Her voice softens. “Honestly… I still see him. Every week. He’s better off where he is. Happier. Can you imagine what growing up in this house would’ve done to him?”
Her eyes flick across the room. “Things are better now. Sort of. But growing up here? Our parents had a way of tearing the childhood out of you. Liam and I we tried to shield the younger ones. Took the
–
brunt of it so they wouldn’t have to. But wounds like that? They don’t just heal. When they do, they scar.”
I look back to the room.
0.00%
17:57
Chapter 163
286 Vouchers
We’ve missed some of it. But the aftermath is written all over their
faces.
Tuli’s crying – loud, breathless sobs like she’s trying to make up for every year she spent pretending she didn’t know. Seth looks gutted, like the floor’s just vanished beneath his feet. Jessica’s trembling with fury, jaw clenched, fists tighter.
And Liam…
I’ve never seen him like this.
He doesn’t say a word. Doesn’t look back. Just strides past the chaos, past Julie standing quietly at my side, and grabs our stuff. Then he’s in front of me. “Let’s go.”
My voice barely comes out. “Okay.”
We don’t say goodbye. Jessica tries to speak to him- quiet, desperate
–
but Liam doesn’t stop. Doesn’t look at her. Just takes my hand and leads me out.
It’s only once we’re out of the street, halfway down the road, that I see his shoulders drop. He finally breathes. As a peace offering, I let him fiddle with the radio and don’t say anything when he lands on something awful.
“You okay?” I ask, knowing full well the answer.
For a second, I think he won’t respond. Then he lets out a hollow laugh, tapping the steering wheel. “Not really. I always knew my dad was a piece of shit, but Mum…” He trails off, jaw tightening. “Lacey’s been calling like crazy. Can you call her back? Something might be up.”
I check my phone. Seven missed calls. A message that reads: Em, it’s
29.40%
17.57
Chapter 163
288 Vouchers
important. Please call back when you can.
My stomach drops.
I call her immediately. The line clicks, but her usual brightness isn’t
there.
“Where are you?” she asks. “Are you with Liam? Is he driving?”
“Yeah. We’re on our way. We’ll be there in a few hours.”
“Am I on speaker?”
“Yeah.”
“Take me off.”
There’s no teasing in her voice. Just urgency. I pull the phone off speaker and glance at Liam, who raises an eyebrow. I shrug.
“Lace, what’s going on?”
The second it’s just us, she breaks down. “Oh, Em, it’s awful. I can’t- I don’t even-”
“Hey, hey. Breathe. Just talk to me. What happened?”
She’s crying now. Proper crying. I hear it in every choked breath.
“The wedding’s off.”
I blink. “Wait – what? Why? What happened?”
There’s a long pause. And then, quietly:
“It’s Becca. She’s dead.”
25.968
Chapter 167
11 288 Vouchers
ZANE
THREE WEEKS LATER
The score buzzer screams. 3-2, final.
Another goddamn loss.
I slam my stick into the boards on my way off the ice. The blade snaps clean in half. Splinters fly. I don’t care.
Chicago Blizzards vs. Detroit Forge. At home. A packed arena and we still managed to fumble the lead in the last seven minutes. It’s our third straight loss. We’re sliding hard. No chemistry. No structure. Everyone playing like they’ve never shared a line before.
―
And yeah – maybe that’s because we’re not the team we’re supposed to be.
Not without Stone.
The name leaves a sour taste. I don’t even want to think it, let alone say it out loud. But his ghost’s in every shift we play. Every missed backcheck. Every puck we don’t clear. He’s the elephant in the damn locker room.
He’s been suspended indefinitely. “Pending further investigation,” the official statement said. The league’s keeping it vague. The team’s been tight–lipped. But the boys? We know.
78.21%
17 58 1
Chapter 164
288 (Vouchers
Chapter 164
