As expected, their voices turned sharp with panic. They told me not to go inside, saying it was too crowded and too unsafe. They reassured me they were close and that they would come to find me right away.
A cold smile tugged at my lips.
I replied indifferently and ended the call.
Just then, I saw Elijah answering his phone. His expression tensed immediately. He whispered something to Scarlett, handed their son over to her and then slipped out through the back door in a hurry.
Scarlett, too, disappeared into the crowd.
Understanding struck like a blade to the chest.
The call had come from my parents.
They weren’t stopping me out of concern for my safety.
They were afraid I’d see Elijah and Scarlett together.
A wave of shock and sorrow crashed over me, threatening to pull me under. My whole life, every word, every gesture of kindness, had been nothing but a carefully woven lie.
And all of it was for Scarlett.
The true culprit. The one who had taken everything from me.
I curled my fingers, nails biting deep into my palm. The sharp pain steadied me, cutting through the haze.
Since they had gone to such lengths to deceive me, I would return the favor completely.