Even Harlan who could be painfully slow sotis noticed sothing was off about compared to before.
But I didn’t have ti to explain anything. My heart was too loud. My instincts were screaming that Lewis walking out alone was a bad idea.
I grabbed Harlan by the collar and pointed toward the door, then made a quick gesture.
For once, his brain caught up fast.
"You want to follow him?" he asked.
I nodded hard.
Riley dropped her food imdiately and moved with us. We rushed downstairs and climbed into Harlan’s car. Sitting with Harlan wouldn’t raise suspicion. If anyone saw us, it would look normal just a husband driving his mate and her friend.
My eyes stayed fixed on the road.
I had known Lewis for a long ti. He was usually calm, brooding, and ruthless when he needed to be. He never wasted emotion. He never let people see his cracks.
But tonight?
Tonight he was not himself.
I understood why. He had been living inside a lie for years. He built his whole life on pretending pretending to be weaker, pretending not to notice, pretending not to fear.
And then the biggest possibility hit him.
That Amber might be his mother.
If that was true, it ant he shared blood with the Blackwells the sa two monsters who destroyed once. Even thinking about it made my stomach twist.
The more Lewis loved , the more it would choke him. Because how could he accept being tied to the people who hurt ?
Still, it was only a theory. We were guessing. Everything stayed in the air until we had test results.
And even if Amber truly was his mother... I wouldn’t bla him.
I was only scared he wouldn’t be able to handle it.
It took so much for to find my way back to him. The thought of losing him again made my chest tighten until it hurt.
Riley noticed my distress. For once, she didn’t joke. She reached for my hand and held it firmly, her face serious.
"Don’t worry," she said. "I’m here. No matter what happens, I’ll stand by you."
In my old life, I didn’t have many friends. The few I had drifted away after school, like I never mattered enough to stay.
I never imagined Riley would beco the one person I’d trust with my life.
For a second, I rembered the Riley I used to know pale, exhausted, wearing black like she was already halfway gone.
This Riley felt different. Warr. Fiercer. Alive.
My eyes stung. I squeezed her hand and nodded.
At least I wasn’t facing this alone.
Through the rearview mirror, Harlan saw our hands clasped together. His brow furrowed, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"What secrets are you two hiding?" he asked quietly.
I couldn’t answer.
Riley snapped back without missing a beat. "It’s girls’ secrets. Why do you need to know everything?"
Harlan went silent.
I didn’t have the energy to care about their bickering. My eyes stayed glued to Lewis’s car ahead.
He was heading straight to the Dolton residence.
And he did it with no hesitation, like he’d already decided the outco didn’t matter.
We followed at a distance, lights off when we finally parked nearby. Rain started to fall, heavy and sudden. We kept the wipers off too, letting the downpour cover us like a curtain.
Water ran down the windows and blurred everything into a ssy mosaic. In the distance, the pale walls of the estate glowed faintly, and rose petals trembled in the wind.
I clenched my fists in my lap.
Yael better truly like the way he claid.
Because if his feelings were twisted if he thought "liking" ant owning then he could destroy everything with a single sentence.
If Yael told Amber I was alive, she would guard herself imdiately. Lewis wouldn’t be able to get close again. He wouldn’t be able to take anything from her. Not even a simple sample.
Lightning split the sky. Thunder followed, loud enough to shake my bones.
Each strike felt like a hand squeezing my heart tighter.
Riley patted my back gently. "It’s okay," she whispered. "Everything will be fine."
I didn’t blink.
What was Lewis saying inside that house? Was he revealing everything? Was he threatening her? Was he begging?
My mind ran wild.
Amber wouldn’t hurt him... would she?
But what if she locked him up? What if she kept him hidden from forever?
Ti stretched strangely. I didn’t know how long we sat there until I finally saw movent.
Lewis ca out into the rain without an umbrella.
Tiffany trailed behind him, limping, struggling to catch up as she held an umbrella over him like it was so grand romantic scene.
My heart jumped into my throat.
Then Tiffany wrapped her arms around Lewis from behind.
For a second, I froze.
Then I exhaled, slow.
If Tiffany still dared to cling to him like that, it probably ant the Doltons didn’t suspect him. To her, Lewis was still the man she wanted. Still the one she thought she could pull back with a smile and a touch.
I relaxed just a little until I noticed Riley rolling up her sleeves like she was about to jump out of the car.
"That shaless woman," she hissed.
I grabbed her arm and held her back.
Harlan spoke like he was trying to calm a storm. "Don’t worry. If Lewis really wanted her, they would’ve been together years ago."
Riley scoffed. "You can’t be sure. n are shaless, especially when sothing is handed to them like a gift."
Harlan flinched like her words hit a sore spot. "Janice, I’ve explained a hundred tis. Nina was like a sister to . Helping her was just being kind."
Riley’s eyes narrowed. "Accepting hugs from females who aren’t your mate makes you trash. Period."
Harlan sighed like he had lost that battle before it even began.
Outside, Lewis suddenly shoved Tiffany away.
She tried to grab him again, but he didn’t hold back. He pushed her hard enough that she stumbled and fell into a muddy puddle. The umbrella slipped from her grip and landed beside her.
Lewis didn’t even look back.
His car sped past, spraying dirty water over her. And Tiffany still tried to crawl after him like humiliation ant nothing.
Then Amber stepped out and saw the whole thing.
My chest tightened.
Harlan imdiately started the car and followed Lewis, smooth and quick.
Thank God Amber’s attention stayed on Tiffany. She didn’t look our way.
I checked the rearview mirror carefully. No cars behind us. No tail.
Riley squeezed my hand. "That woman... she’s suspicious, right?"
I nodded and traced two words on her palm.
Devil.
A woman who gave birth to two devils wasn’t going to be ordinary.
After driving for a while, Lewis pulled over to the side of the road. His hazard lights blinked through the rain, casting an eerie glow on the wet asphalt.
I opened my door and climbed into his car.
He was soaked. Damp hair clung to his sharp face. His eyes looked dark and unyielding, like steel.
But when his gaze landed on , guilt slipped through.
"Sorry for making you worry," he murmured.
I placed my hand over his and patted it gently.
He lifted his hand and ruffled my hair like he needed to feel sothing normal. "Don’t be afraid," he said softly. "I won’t do anything reckless. Amber doesn’t know you’re alive. I got the sample. I’ll send it for testing imdiately."
I stared at him, stunned.
It was... too easy.
So Yael really hadn’t told her.
At least he didn’t want dead.
That relief hit so hard my chest loosened.
Lewis continued, voice steady. "After you went missing, Theo visited the hospital. Amber ca to see several tis. Tonight she let her guard down. Even when I acted out of character, she thought I was losing my mind over you."
He glanced at the downpour outside. "I switched cars, replaced the dashcam, and her only informant is still in the hospital. She can’t control the way she used to."
But if that was true...
Why did he still look tense?
Was he afraid?
Afraid the test would confirm the one truth he couldn’t outrun?
I pulled out my phone and typed carefully, making sure my words were clear.
Carl, no matter whose son you are, I love you. That will never change.
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