Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
If he read every page of her journal, he’d know Nellie killed his mum. But no where in the journal does she disclose the actual affair. It was just a feeling I had when I read it. I have no idea what to say. This isn’t us—we are no longer a lie.
“Say something!” he roars.
I wince. The ache in my heart is not a metaphor. It’s real, tangible, and all-consuming. “Nothing I can say will bring back your parents. Nothing I can say will make what happened okay. Nothing I can say will change the facts.”
“The facts? THE FACTS?!”
I swallow past my fear, which is hard with him inching closer to me, hands clenched, body vibrating with so much anger.
“Please, enlighten me.”
I’m not sure he really means it. But since he said it, I’m going to do what I seem to do best: shatter worlds.
“Your mum and Harold were having an affair.”
His head juts back, eyes narrowed. “No.” He shakes his head.
Now does he see all of the unwritten words that I saw in the journal?
“Nellie found out. She drove to your house with the intention of killing Harold.”
“Stop.” He continues to shake his head.
“She caught them together and aimed the gun at Harold—”
“Stop!” Theo presses the heels of his hands to the side of his head.
“Your mum jumped in front of Harold right as the gun went off.”
“STOP!” He buckles at both the waist and the knees, with his face buried in his hands.
“Theo …” I bend forward, reaching for him, but he stumbles backwards, collapsing onto the sofa.
Averting his red, glassy eyes, he reaches for his pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling the police.”
“Please, don’t.”
He freezes, then slowly looks up at me. “What did you say?”
“It was an accident.”
“My mother is dead,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Oscar loves her.” Theo can’t understand what that really means in the scope of my life and my relationship with Oscar. And at this exact moment, with his finger poised to press send, I can’t convey it quick enough for him to comprehend.
“My. Mother. Is. DEAD! My father is DEAD!”
I swipe at my tears and nod. “I’m sorry.”
The vacant look in his eyes says all there’s left to say.
No more begging.
No more bargaining.
No more lies.
He presses send. I hear his voice, but the words don’t register past the grief of mourning the loss of his parents, Oscar’s future, Nolan, Nellie, but most especially … Theo.
A few minutes later, he ends the call. Holding his mobile in his hands, he stares at it—head bowed, shoulders turned inward. How long before the police arrive at the Moores’? How long before Oscar arrives at my door?
I support my air cast with one hand while I lower the recliner’s footrest.
“Don’t,” he whispers as I reach for my crutches.
The idea of Theo never looking at me again, never touching me again is so unfathomable it feels like a special kind of pain saved for the worst of humanity. I bite my trembling lips together and nod, tears blurring everything. There’s no question about it, I’m far from perfect. I’ve taken things that weren’t mine to take. I’ve hurt one person to save another. I’ve made impossible choices, and I’ve lived with the consequences—as I am now. But I have to believe that I’m not unredeemable. I have to believe that there’s something inside of me that’s worthy of love.
Theo slowly stands. I sniffle and swallow back so much pain it nearly chokes me. I wait for it—pray for it.
Nothing.
Not a single glance.
He turns and opens the door.
“Why were you looking at my phone?” It’s not a plea. I know I no longer have a case. I need to make sense of what just happened. How it happened. I need closure.
Theo keeps his back to me, but pauses halfway out the door. “I was going to ask for your dad’s blessing before proposing to you.”
The door closes.
I hug my stomach, collapsing back in the chair as sobs wrack my whole body.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
My name is Scarlet Stone, and I am alive.
True to his word, Oscar doesn’t blame me. Four months ago, Nellie pled guilty to manslaughter. Harold was arrested and charged with aiding and abetting in the conviction of Braxton Ames as well as attempted murder. After Nolan testified, he sold the mansion and all of his other property and moved to the West Coast.
Oscar walks around Savannah from sunrise to sunset, stopping at book stores and coffee shops. He says very little, but always gives me a warm smile and kiss on the cheek like I’m still the light of his life. I’m not sure if he’s avoiding me or just searching for a new direction.
I feel quite lost myself. Theo disappeared. I haven’t looked for him. What could I possibly say or do to change what has happened? He has the truth. I didn’t stand in the way of him turning in Nellie, and I won’t stand in the way of him grieving the news of his mum cheating on his dad. He is unequivocally the love of my life—of every life I will ever have. He’s branded into my scarred soul.