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“Get me those files,” I said, looking at Mia.“I need them now.Yesterday.”
“For that, I need a lawyer,” she replied with a grimace.“I can only go so far so fast.Now, if I had someone with credentials on my side…”
“I have one,” Lux said.She reached her hand out to mine, squeezing it.The look she gave me told me our minds had gone to the same place.“She can help with whatever you need.She specializes in this apparently.”
“Great!”Mia hopped off her seat.“Now, if you excuse me, I am going to get started on that for you.If you need to buy some time, you can always throw your father’s situation—or thedonations—in her face.”
“I'll keep that in mind.Thank you,” Lux said, gaze cast down to the blown-up photos Mia left behind.
The sound of the front door shutting echoed through the silent house.It felt heavy, like a hit to my chest.
“You don't think?—”
“Come on, Bella,” I told the child, maneuvering her off the chair.I regretted her even being a part of this conversation even more now.“We're not going to school today, but that doesn't mean you can slack on your homework.”
“But it's still so early!”she exclaimed with a pout.
“And the earlier you finish, the earlier you can play,” I reasoned, and this time she didn't fight me.
Lux was still looking at me, her gaze heavy.But I didn’t want to meet her eyes for fear that I would give everything away.I needed time to digest this, to talk myself out of spiraling.
There's no way.There is no fucking way, and I refuse to believe it.Not just because of what it meant for my family, but what it would mean for Lux and me going forward.For Bella and me.
I could already feel it souring things between us.And that somehow felt like my fault.
But as I sat with Bella at the table and felt Lux watching from afar, I couldn't help but think of my parents.Of what their last minutes had been like.Of how terrifying it must have been.And how, if it were true, her mother had gotten away with it for years.
I thought about how she found my aunt.And how she was so hostile to me from the beginning.
Has she known who I am all along?
Maybe she already knew I was their daughter.Maybe her going to my aunt wasn't just to get dirt on me and Lux and just her way ofdoing damage control because it shocked her that her daughter and I had found each other and might be one step closer to figuring out who the fuck she really was.
Another voice in my head whispered something even worse.
Maybe it is truly just the world's most awful coincidence.
Maybe there wasn't a bigger scheme.Maybe there wasn't some villain trying to ruin my life and instead just a woman who wanted to cover up her crimes.
And all the while my mind kept going to one thing.Can we make it through this?
I tried to put on a brave face for Bella, but I could barely focus, and Lux saw right through me.
“Juliette, can I talk to you?”
Fuck.I looked up at Lux, trying not to show her just how afraid I was of this conversation.
“Does that mean I can go play outside?”
“Go ahead,” Lux replied before calling, “Gina!”When she appeared around the corner with refreshments and a small snack for Bella, Lux added, “Can you watch her outside for a moment, please?”
“Of course!Let's go, girl.”Bella took her hand and skipped off, happy not to have to deal with her homework, and Gina gave me one lingering glance before following her out.
I was silent as Lux took me to her office, but then as soon as the door closed, I couldn't help but spill everything that had been crowding my mind since the information broker showed up.
It was a nonstop tumble of every single thought in my head.Everything from her mom and her dad, how sorry I felt for her, how worried I was for Bella, and then finally, when I got to the car accident, I paused.
“What else, Angel?Tell me.”