Chapter 103
“You’re awfully protective of Noah,” I say. “In all that, I haven’t heard you mention Nolan or Nova once. Why is that? Why is it always Noah p>
Something flickers across her face but she covers it quickly.
“That’s none of your business. Stay away from him and don’t you dare think you can use Nolan and Nova to reel him in p>
I roll my eyes at her words. It’s funny how Noah accused me of the same thing.
Which makes me wonder… do they just think alike, or is one feeding the other’s delusions?
“Like I said, I don’t want Noah,” I tell her, “But it really makes me wonder why you’re so hellbent on keeping me away from him p>
Her jaw clenches so tight it looks painful, but I don’t stop. Something about the way she’s being possessive doesn’t sit right. This isn’t just about loyalty to Chloe. It’s much deeper and more personal.
The way she talks about him, it’s almost as if…
“Oh my god.” My breath catches. I stare at her, wide–eyed as the realization clicks into place. “You’re in love with Noah. That’s why you’re so territorial over him.” 3
Her face freezes. Panic flashes through her eyes before she masks it, but it’s too late. I’ve already seen it.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammers.
“You’re in love with him,” I repeat, my voice trembling with disbelief. “And you call me shameless? Does he even know you love him p>
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” she snaps, the mask slipping.
“I do,” I shoot back, my anger finally breaking through. “Lusting after your sister’s husband, Brook? How low can you sink p>
“Shut up!” she screams, her voice echoing down the aisle. “She’s dead so what does it matter p>
I smirk. Bingo.
Her lips snap shut the moment she realizes what she’s said. For a beat, we just stare at each other. Me, stunned by the truth; her, seething with humiliation.
Then, without another word, she gives me one last poisonous glare and storms off, heels clicking furiously against the tile.
I stay frozen for a moment, heart pounding, before letting out a shaky breath. Slowly, I gather myself, head to my car, unload the shopping, return the cart, and drive home.
Even as I pull onto the road, my mind won’t stop spinning.
Brook is in love with Noah.
Does he know? Did Chloe know? 1
Man, this is big. Lilly’s going to lose her mind when she hears this. I still can’t wrap my head around it. Brook, of all people, being in love with her own sister’s husband?
How long has this been going on? Is it something recent, or has it been there all along, hidden beneath her mask? If it’s something that started before Chloe died, then she’s done one hell of a job keeping it burled. No one ever suspected a thing.
But it makes sense, doesn’t it? Chloe would’ve turned on her without hesitation. She didn’t like competition. Anyone who so much as looked at Noah twice became an enemy. She would’ve turned on Brook, just like she did with me.
My fingers tighten around the steering wheel as I drive. It’s insane. Unbelievable. And yet, the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. The way she’s always hovered around him, the snide comments, the possessiveness… How did none of us ever see it? 2
“Focus, Sierra,” I mutter under my breath.
I shake my head, trying to force my thoughts down, but it’s almost useless, because this is huge and I can’t wait to fill Lilly in.
Pushing the excitement down, I force my focus back on the road. It curves ahead with trees lining both sides. I press the brake as I approach a sharp bend but nothing happens.
My heart skips. I press harder. Still nothing. The pedal sinks uselessly to the floor.
“What the” Panic floods my veins. I pump the brakes, but the car keeps rolling, picking up speed. The tires screech as I yank the steering wheel, but the motion only sends the car fishtailing. My breath comes out in short, sharp bursts.
“Come on, come on!” I slam the brake again and again, but it’s dead. The car veers toward the edge of the road.
There’s a flash of metal–a guardrail–then the sickening sound of impact.
Everything lurches. My head snaps forward. The airbag explodes against me with a blinding pop. My ears ring. The world tilts, with parts of it turning crimson.
The last thing I hear before everything goes black is the faint echo of my mother’s voice.
“My intuition is never wrong. 6