Cecilia’s pov
Grandma studied , her brows slightly drawn, like she was weighing sothing too heavy to say out loud.
"Cece," she began slowly, "you know I used to work for the Locke family, right? Esther was living there too, back then."
A chill ran up my spine. My scalp prickled.
Why was she bringing up the Lockes now?
I instantly thought of Mr. Zane’s unexpected visit to our house.
Mom had looked shaken after that, like she’d seen a ghost.
"Yeah, I rember," I said, keeping my voice light. "Last ti Mr. Zane ca to Denver, he stopped by our place just to ask about you, Grandma."
She nodded. "Yes. That was Mr. Zane. And to you, Cece... he’s also a very important person."
My stomach dropped. It felt like soone had knocked the wind out of .
[Wait. Was she saying that Mom and Mr. Zane had... history? No. That couldn’t be it. Right? ]
I couldn’t even finish the thought.
My whole body went stiff. I didn’t dare ask what she really ant by "important." Instead, I forced a smile, though it felt like it might crack my face.
"Grandma, the most important people in my life are my parents. The Locke family might be rich and powerful, but that’s their world. I don’t need soone else’s na to make feel worth sothing."
Grandma and Mom exchanged a look, clearly surprised by my reaction.
I took a breath and said it straight. "I like Sebastian, I really do. But getting married? That’s a huge step. It’s too soon."
I fidgeted with the edge of the bedspread, trying to ground myself. "Getting married again takes guts.You don’t build a future just because the chemistry’s good. You build it when you’re sure."
I looked up and t their eyes.
My voice was steadier now. "I want to take things slow. Let it grow naturally. If it’s real, it’ll last. And when the ti feels right, I’ll know."
Mom and Grandma didn’t say anything. Their faces looked calr, but there was sothing in their eyes I couldn’t figure out.
Grandma spoke again, choosing her words carefully. "But Cece, sotis for things to fall into place, it helps to have a little... support. Like stronger connections. A better place in the world."
That landed with a thud in my chest. I knew exactly what she ant.
I sat up straighter and raised a hand, firm. "I don’t need that. I’m already enough. This version of ? It’s the best one yet."
They both fell silent, clearly taken aback.
Grandma held my gaze for a long second, then gave a small nod. "Alright. We’ll go with your pace."
She didn’t bring up Mr. Zane again.
I figured she’d realized I was already suspicious and couldn’t handle the full truth.
Maybe she planned to ease into it later.
A bit of the pressure in my chest loosened.
But then Grandma added, almost too casually, "I’d like you to co with to Colorado Springs on the sixteenth. It’s Mrs. Locke’s birthday. I’m not getting any younger, and I’d really like to see her. "
She paused, her eyes locking on mine.
"And... I’d like her to et you."
I froze.
Out of everything I didn’t want, eting soone from the Locke family was right at the top of the list.
My throat tightened. My body went still, like my brain was trying to hit pause on the entire mont.
Before I could say a word, Mom jumped in. Her voice was calm, but there was no room for argunt.
"We’ll go with her. All of us."
I turned to look at her, but she wasn’t looking at . She was already making the decision for .
[ If I’d only been a little suspicious before, now I was almost sure.
This wasn’t about catching up with so old family acquaintance.
They wanted the Lockes to see .
To recognize .
To claim as one of their own. ]
My stomach turned.
[ Was I really Mr. Zane’s daughter? ]
The thought hit like a punch to the chest.
I couldn’t breathe for a second.I felt my pulse pounding in my ears.
I searched Mom’s face, hoping for a sign that I was wrong. That I’d misunderstood everything.
But she wouldn’t et my eyes.
My head started to pound. I pressed a hand to my forehead. "I need to lie down. My head hurts."
They both nodded and left the room without another word.
As soon as the door clicked shut, I flopped back on the bed. My thoughts were spinning out of control.
How was this real?
This wasn’t just drama. It was full-on soap opera territory. And it was happening to my mom?
arted doing the math in my head.
I was older than Xenia, but younger than Zane Locke’s late son.
So if the timing lined up...that ant Mr. Zane had cheated on his wife not once, but twice?
With two different won?
What a total sleaze. Seriously, bottom of the barrel.
I sat up straighter, heat rising to my face. My hands were balled into fists in my lap before I even noticed.
Even if soone handed a crown and said, "Congrats, you’re a Locke," I’d toss it right back.
I didn’t want the na, the legacy, or the baggage that ca with it.
And Maggie Locke? If she ever found out the truth...
I didn’t even want to imagine it.
That woman would burn everything down just to keep her perfect picture intact.
There was no way I was walking into that party like everything was fine.
I had to stop this train before it ran off the rails. If I didn’t, the whole thing would blow up and take us down with it.
Reviews
All reviews (0)