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sick.” Not, “I just came from the doctor.” Not, “The doctor just called me.”

What had Beth done that was so terrible that she looked like she didn’t have

a drop of blood left in her face?

Beth’s eyes flooded with tears, and then she did blink, so furiously and so

many times that Arabella grabbed the edge of her desk. She felt like

something was coming at her. It was like sitting in the driver’s seat of your

car, knowing you’re about to be in a wreck, but being virtually powerless to

stop it from happening. It was a terrible feeling. She hated the way her heart

slammed over and over again, drumming out a sick rhythm that made her

whole body feel numb and shaky.

Whatever Beth had done, she was here to tell her, not June, not anyone

else. What did that mean?

Beth swallowed thickly and brushed at her tears. “I—Arabella, God, I’m

so sorry. I did something and I don’t know how to undo it.”

Arabella didn’t think she was an overly good problem solver, but Beth

had come to her, and she would do what she could to help, even if she felt a

disgusting hollowness in the pit of her stomach. It felt like it was growing

with every second that Beth didn’t say anything. The suspense was a gross

thing, a shadowy monster waiting to devour them both.

“Why don’t you just try to tell me what it is, and I can help,” Arabella

said. She gave Beth a watered-down smile that was supposed to be much

stronger than it was.

Beth looked away quickly, as if shed been chased by Arabella’s gaze,

which wasn’t a good sign at all. “I’m sorry. I never meant it to get so far. I

thought we could still beat them to market. I thought the designs would be

useless for them then. They weren’t far enough along in the planning stages

to actually execute something like that, but they have. They are. They did.”

“What are you saying?” Arabella’s heartrate was painful now.

“I sold your designs,” Beth gasped out.

“Sold my what?” Arabella was so confused that it was like Beth’s words