"The woman who kidnapped ," I say finally. "My rapist’s sister."
Sothing in him goes completely stil like a switch flipped.
"And you believed her?" he asks quietly.
"She had details," I shoot back. "Things that actually made sense."
"Or things that were ant to sound like they make sense," he counters imdiately.
I falter slightly.
He notices.
"She wanted to break you," he continues, his voice still controlled but more intense now. "You said it yourself....she’s connected to the man I killed. You think she wouldn’t twist things to turn you against ?"
My chest tightens again because that does make sense but so did what she said and that’s the problem.
"I don’t know," I say again, more frustrated now. "I don’t know what’s real anymore.
Zane’s expression shifts again...,not angry this ti.
"Then look at ," he says.
I hesitate but I do.
"Do you really think I’d go that far?" he asks. "After everything?"
I open my mouth....Then stop because the answer isn’t simple and he sees that.....that hesitatio and doub and it hits him
I can see it clear as day, sothing in his expression cracks just slightly
Not fully but enough and suddenly.....this isn’t just a fight anymore, it’s sothing worse.
Because now?
Now neither of us is sure where we stand.
When I don’t answer him....not a word.
Zane just... looks at , for a second longer than he should, like he’s waiting, hoping and when nothing cos....He exhales, It’s quiet, but I hear it.
He nods once mor to himself than to .
"Yeah," he mutters under his breath.
Then a little louder, without looking at anyone else in the room....
"You know where to find when you’re ready."
Then he turns and walks out....js like that. He didn’t even look back once. And so how that hurts .
The door closes behind him with a soft click that feels louder than it should and th room stays still for a second.
I’m still standing there, staring at the space he just left like if I look long enough he might walk back in. He doesn’t.
"Elaine....." Noah’s voice.
He’s voice sounds careful like he’s stepping into sothing fragile but i don’t even turn to him.
"Don’t," I say.
It cos out sharper than I expect...,,enough to shut him up imdiately.
I don’t want comfort, I don’t want questions and I fknt want anyone in my space while I’m trying to make sense of what just happened.
Because I can’t even do that myself.
So I turn.....And I walk away up the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last.
I get to the room, push the door open, and shut it behind harder than I need t, the sound echoing briefly Then it’s quiet again.
I don’t even bother with the lights, I jusy walk to the bed and sit. After a while of just sitting there and Staring at nothing.... everything hits at once, I drop my face into my hands and I cry.
It cos out ssy and uneven, like I’ve been holding it in for too long and my body just decided it’s done waiting.
My shoulders shake and my chest hurts....like physically hurts.
"He said he loved ..." I whisper to no one, the words feel strange in my mouth.
"He said he loved ..."
And what did I do? I shut him down, I shut him down like it didn’t matter ljke it didn’t an anything but it did.
That’s the problem....it did.
I drag my hands down my face, my fingers catching on damp skin.
"I didn’t even say anything..." I mumble, my voice breaking. "I didn’t even...,
I can’t finish that because what would I have said? I don’t even know and that’s what’s tearing up.
If I knew he was lying, this would be easier, if I was sure he was telling the truth, this would be easier but I’m stuck in the middle and it’s the worst place to be.
Because part of ...a stupid, quiet part of .....Believed him.
The way he said it and the way he looked at ,.,.that didn’t look fake.
I’ve seen him lie, ive seen him manipulate. That... didn’t feel like either of those and that’s what scares .
Because what if it’s real? Whay if he actually ant it? Then what does that make everything else?
I press my lips together, trying to stop the next wave of tears, but it doesn’t work....they slip out anyway. Hit Unforgiving tears.
"And what if he didn’t do it..." I whisper, my voice barely audible.
Then everything I said....everything I accused him of.....My chest tightens again as guilt creeps in, mixing with the anger and confusion until I can’t tell where one ends and the other begins.
"I don’t know what to believe..." I admit softly and th that’s the worst part....It’s the not knowing.... I pull my knees up onto the bed, curling into myself slightly, arms wrapping around my legs.
I miss him.
And I don’t even know if I should.
Sleep doesn’t co easy.....i toss, turn, wake up, fall back asleep, wake up again.
And every ti I close my eyes, I either see Zane standing there... looking at like that
Or I hear his voice.
I fucking love you.
By the ti morning finally settles in properly, I’m not even sure I slept at all. But I’m awake and my mind is clear.
The kind of clear that only cos when you’ve thought about sothing so much your brain just... stops arguing.
I sit up slowly, the sheets slipping off my body, and stare ahead for a second
"I can’t stay here," I whisper to myself.
It doesn’t feel like a choice anymore, it feels like sothing I have to do not because I want to. But because I can’t keep dragging everyone into this.
Grandpa is already making noise and the board is watching.
Lucas and my brothers are already stepping into sothing bigger than just family.
And ?
I’m right in the middle of it.
I drag a hand over my face and let out a breath.
"It’s a good thing I didn’t bring my stuff," I mutter under my breath.
There’s nothing to pack and nothing to delay . Maybe that’s why it feels easier or maybe harder.
I get out of bed and move through the motions. Ahowr, Clothes wirj Sothing simple. Sothing that doesn’t make this feel heavier than it already is.
I don’t overthink it.
If I do, I won’t go I know that.
By the ti I step out of the room and make my way downstairs, my chest already feels tight again.
They’re all there.
When I step into the living room, their attention shifts to almost imdiately.
Lucas straightens slightly and for a second....
I almost don’t say it but I do.
"I’m going back," I say
Straight to the point, no room to soften it.
They all freeze.
"Back where?" Ivy asks first, even though she already knows.
I et her eyes.
"To Zane’s."
Lucas is the first to react, his brows pull together instantly.
"What?" he says, like he didn’t hear right.
"I’m going back," I repeat, steadier this ti.
Noah stands up now.
"Did sothing happen?" he asks. "Did we...."
"Did we make you uncomfortable?" Caleb cuts in, concern laced through his voice.
I shake my head quickly.
"No," I say imdiately. "No, it’s not that."
I step forward a little.
"You guys have been... everything," I admit, my voice softening just a bit. "You took care of . You protected . You gave space."
I glance between them.
"And I needed that."
Ivy’s eyes are already glassy.
"Then why go back?" she asks quietly.
That question.....it sits heavier than anything else.
I take a breath.
Because I don’t even know how to explain it properly.
"I just... need to," I say finally.
It sounds weak but it’s the truth.
Lucas shakes his head slightly, frustrated now.
"No, that’s not a reason, Elaine."
"I know," I say, eting his eyes. "But it’s mine."
That stops him.... because he agrees but because he knows and he knows when I’ve made up my mind.
The room goes quiet again, different this ti.
Noah exhales and runs a hand through his hair.
"You don’t have to do this," he says.
"I know," I reply softly.
But I still am.
Lucas looks away for a second, jaw tight, then back at .
"You sure about this?" he asks.
There’s sothing in his voice not just concern.
Protection.
I nod.
"I’m sure."
I’m not.
But I say it anyway.
Because if I don’t sound sure, I won’t be able to take another step forward. He studies for a long mont.
Then finally.....He sighs a long, reluctant breath.
"Alright," he mutters.
Not agreent, just acceptance.
Ivy walks up to first and then she hugs tight lik she doesn’t want to let go.
"You better call ," she murmurs against my shoulder.
I let out a small, shaky laugh.
"I will."
Noah cos next.
His hug is firm, grounding.
"Anything happens, you call," he says quietly.
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