Page 42 of Balance

“You’re an absolute ass.” Finn slammed his cards down on top of mine, drawing my attention to him.

Brayden and Bryce were looking between them, eyes wide, and Julian continued to radiate an ice-cold fury as he glared at Damen, fists clenched. Titus still hadn’t said a word, but there seemed to be a general air of sweltering fury thick in the atmosphere.

“There was no need to act like that,” Finn continued. “You’re going about this all wrong.”

“Stay out of it, Finn.” Damen’s gaze was still a heavy weight on me. “This is between me and Bianca. Mind your own business.”

“It’s my business if she starts crying.” Finn adjusted his glasses with a shaky hand, still glaring at his brother. “She’s sitting right next to me.”

“Yeah, I wonder how that happened.” Damen snorted, finally turning his head to narrow a suspicious gaze to Finn. “Don’t think I didn’t notice how you basicallyshovedBryce into the second row just to get back there.”

Finn’s expression twisted almost comically, his face turning a deep scarlet. “I just didn’t want to sit beside Julian.”

“Whatever,” Damen said. “Just don’t forget whatyourrole is, and what the rules are.”

“I know the damn rules.” Finn growled, glaring out of Bryce’s window, red and orange trees blurring past the glass. “I’ve been reciting the rules every day for ten years.”

“Tenyears?” Julian scoffed, the tension loosening from his frame. “That’s nothing.”

I blinked between them, the heavy weight on my chest loosening as my warm skin cooled.

Why would Finn be reciting rules to himself every day? I had a suspicion, but there was no way I was correct.

Then again, the facts all aligned to my theory.

Ten years ago—that was when Finn and I first became friends. While it was true he’d been doing a terrible job, especially lately, he had been protecting me all this time.

Finn obviously had known who I was, and he knew Bryce. The two of them also shared a bond. He must have been harboring so much guilt.

To hide me, he had to lie within the sacred confides of his own quintet. He had to lie toBryce.

They had been hanging out a lot recently, and the relationship between them was better than that first day—when Bryce and Finn argued in the science building.

Without me to cause discord between them, their bond was growing stronger.

And, even though it was illogical, Finn was an extremely petty person. It had to be killing him that Bryce and I were married—that was why he pushed Bryce into a different seat, away from me.

It didn’t take a genius to put all of this together.

Finn was in love with Bryce, and he was overwhelmed with guilt and jealousy over our sibling slash marriage bond. For years, he’d deceived the person he adored, and now Bryce was stuck in a marriage to me because of Finn’s incompetence.

Knowing this was his fault was killing Finn inside.

My heart raced as the rightness of this theory washed over me. I shouldn’t be so surprised. The writing had been on the wall since the beginning. I’d suspected, of course—Bryce did know an awful lot about women’s shoes. Then Colette had confirmed my suspicions.

And Finn… Well, I’d always had my doubts about him, at least on some level.

Yes. I could see this relationship blossoming into something beautiful. I must help it come to fruition. Now that Finn didn’t need to lie anymore, this should be easy.

Buthow? I didn’t know the first thing about matchmaking. Perhaps I should consult with Jiayi. She knew a lot about the red threads of fate.

This was the least I could do.

Finn had given me a gift, and I had to repay him somehow. Then I wouldn’t have to feel sad knowing that everyone hated him. I could go back to loathing him without guilt. And then there was Bryce. He could finally find happiness—I hated the way my chest tightened sometimes when watching him. It was fun to pick on him, but not when someone was down all the time.

This would be a good change for everyone.

“I don’t know what the hell she just came up with,” Julian muttered, his voice almost a hiss as he continued to glower at Damen. “But at least she’s not sad anymore.”