Page 76 of The Secrets We Treasure
Chapter 17
“What do you think you’re doing?” Treasure seethed as she spun around to Laci.
Laci pressed her lips together, her expression going solemn like she was a benevolent mediator experiencing great sadness and disappointment. “I know you’ve gone to great lengths to keep your secret from Greer, but he needs to know the truth.”
Confusion washed over Greer’s face as he turned to Treasure. “What’s she talking about?” He threw Laci a hard look. “What lies are you spinning this time?”
Her face fell. “I—I would never lie to you.” She touched his arm, her voice trembling. “I’ve always been here for you.” She cut her eyes at Treasure. “Unlike some people.”
A sinking realization took hold of Treasure, clutching her in the relentless jaws of an alligator. Everything Greer said about Laci was spot-on. Somehow, she managed to find her voice. “How could you betray me? I trusted you.”
Laci’s nostrils flared. “Like Greer trusted you?”
The person she thought was her best friend—the one she loved like a sister—was a Judas. Like one unable to avoid looking at a horrific car accident, Treasure’s gaze was drawn to Josette. She was perched on the edge of the couch, her bony hand clutching her cane. Her stone-gray hair was swept up into a tall tower. Behind her cat-eyed glasses dripping in diamonds lurked black, watchful eyes that were as cold as Treasure remembered. When Treasure was a kid, she’d once heard her mother refer to Josette as the spawn of the devil. Yep, that about summed it up.
“Greer,” Josette croaked with a commanding flick of her hand. “Come over here. It’s time you learned the truth about the woman you think you love.”
To his credit, Greer stayed rooted to the floor. Instead of addressing Josette, he kept his eyes fixed on Francie. “Mom, what’s this about?”
Francie’s expression was grave and tremulous. She merely shook her head and looked away.
“Come,” Josette ordered. “You too, Treasure,” she smirked.
A sliver of apprehension trickled into Greer’s eyes. “What’s this about?”
Treasure’s voice choked with the horror of all that was happening. “It’s what I was about to tell you in the golf cart.”
“Let’s sit down,” Laci suggested.
Treasure’s spine went ramrod straight. “I’ll stand, thank you.” No longer would she be intimidated by the likes of Josette Chasing and Francie Nash.
Laci sighed. “I know this stings a bit, but you’ll come to realize that I’m doing this for your benefit.”
A hard laugh jangled Treasure’s throat. “Don’t pretend to have my best interest at heart. There’s only one reason why you’re doing this. You want Greer.”
“You always have had quite the imagination,” Laci replied lightly, but her face blushed a furious red. She lifted her chin. “I think I’ll sit down, even if you won’t.” She strode over and sat down primly across from Francie and Josette.
Treasure turned to Greer. It was hard enough to know that she’d been betrayed and bullied, but it cut her to the core to know that these wretched women, including his mother, had used Greer as a pawn to force their agendas. Could there be any fixing this? If only she’d listened to her inner voice, which kept insisting that she tell Greer the truth. “As I was saying earlier, shortly after you and I talked to your parents about us getting engaged, Francie asked me to meet her at The Oliver Hotel. I thought she was extending an olive branch.” She grunted. “How wrong I was.”
“The meeting was a litmus test,” Josette wheezed. “To see if you were truly in love with Greer or if it was his money you were after.”
Greer made a face. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” Josette countered.
Tears rushed to Treasure’s eyes. She blinked them back, her words coming out in short, hurried bursts. “They told me I wasn’t good enough for you. That if we got married, you would end up resenting me and leaving just like my father left my mother.”
“Lies!” Josette interrupted.
Treasure homed in on Francie. “Don’t just sit there like a mute. Tell your son the truth.”
Greer’s expression grew stricken as he looked at Treasure. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
She wound her hand around her purse strap. “I was afraid.” She gritted her teeth. “They played on my fears.”
“Tell him about the money,” Josette jeered.
“What money?” Greer uttered, his face going chalky.
