The drive to the resort was mostly silent. Juliette was staying in one of the high-end cabins at the back of the property. My anger flared back to life when I realized that I was footing the bill for that cabin. She was spendingmymoney and using it to stab me in the back.
I parked next to her rental car and climbed out of my SUV. Anna did the same but stayed by the vehicle. Juliette must have heard us drive up because she opened the front door as my door slammed shut. She glared at Anna. “She’s not welcome here.”
A muscle in my cheek ticked. “She’s welcome wherever I am. And since I’m the one paying for your extended stay, I’d say she’s welcome here.”
“Mason,” Anna said in a low tone, moving in behind me.
Juliette’s mouth slackened. “Are you seriously throwing that in my face? I’m in school. You said you wanted me to focus on that and not go into debt.”
“And that hasn’t changed. What has isyou. I never thought you’d betray me. After everything I’ve given you. I’ve never asked for a damn thing in return except for you to give Anna a chance. One thing. You couldn’t even do that. Instead, you opted to be bitter and selfish. And in the process, you hurt the people I care about most in this world.”
“Mason,” Juliette whispered. “What are you talking about?” She took in our apparel and put two and two together. But instead of apologizing, she doubled down. “I did what I thought was right.”
“What you did was potentially deliver two children into the hands of an abusive asshole.”
Juliette blanched. “What are you talking about?”
“Foley beat Anna and her sister all of their lives. He hit Justin. And you couldn’t pause your downward spiral of hate long enough to let me tell you that’s what we were up against. You didn’t even bother to ask if Justin and Lyla wanted to go live with their grandparents. They don’t because they don’t like getting smacked around.”
Juliette’s gaze darted from me to Anna and back again. “You’re wrong. She’s lying. I met with the Foleys and their lawyer. They’re kind people.”
“They’re manipulative,” Anna cut in. “My father would go to church Sunday morning and lock me in a closet Sunday afternoon.”
Heat hit Juliette’s cheeks. “I don’t believe you.”
Anna’s gaze hardened. “Would you believe Justin if he told you that his grandfather punched him so hard it knocked the wind out of him just because he didn’t want to play peewee football?”
“Y-you probably coached him to say that. It’s a better sob story for my brother.”
“Enough,” I barked. “Jules, I love you, but I am done. I won’t have a relationship with you unless you can learn to stop.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Mase. You can’t mean that.”
“I never thought I’d have to do this. It kills me that you can’t see the truth. But I won’t let you poison the life I’m building. And that’s what you’re doing. When you come to your senses, I’ll be there.”
Juliette’s gaze snapped to Anna. “This is because of you.”
“No,” I cut in. “It’s me. Anna told me to go easy on you, but I’ve been doing that for far too long. Now, we’re done.”
But I was afraid I was too late. Lessons Juliette should’ve learned a long time ago might be out of her reach now.
35
Anna
I wasquiet on the ride back to the house. The scene with Juliette replayed over and over in my mind. I knew what it was like to lose a sister. I’d lost Chelsea for years after my sentencing. And now, I’d lost her forever.
Heat flared in my chest, a burning pain. I didn’t want that for Mason. Especially not because of me. He didn’t see it now, but that kind of thing would destroy us. He would slowly come to blame me for it.
My phone dinged. It was a picture text from Jensen. She and Tuck had offered to take Justin and Lyla to see the wild horses with Noah and Drew. It was a photo of Lyla, sheer joy on her face as she took in the majestic creatures from a distance. At least, they were happy. Their days hadn’t been a series of pain and disaster. And I’d do anything to keep it that way.
“Who is it?” Mason asked as he pulled into the garage.
“Jensen.” I handed him my phone.
His mouth curved into a grin. The first one I’d seen in hours. “She looks like she’s having the time of her life.”
His happiness at that fact made the burn in my chest intensify, but for an entirely different reason. Mason loved the kids. He was so good for them. He was good for me. And I didn’t want to lose that.
