Page 107 of Bared Betrayal

“I want to fix this between us,” he says softly, his eyes pleading with me. “Please.”

I swallow hard, my heart heavy. “Let’s just…let’s just get through today, okay? With everything going on, I can’t think straight right now.”

He nods slowly, his gaze not quite meeting mine. We sit in silence for a moment longer before finally stepping out of the car, and I trail behind him as we walk up Elenor’s porch. Sebastian is already on his phone before we even enter the front door.

We enter the living room, and I sit next to him on the couch, closing my eyes for a moment. The scent of air freshener—a sugary citrus blast—makes my stomach churn. The smell is so strong that it seems to have been sprayed straight onto my skin. My body begins to react, my arms breaking out into goosebumps and my gut lurching as if I might vomit. It makes my hangover infinitely worse.

I lean back against the couch, trying to ignore the pounding in my head and how every sound around me seems amplified. Sebastian’s voice becomes a low murmur as he speaks on his phone, and I wonder if anyone else can hear how loud it is for me.

“Yeah, she’s fine. We’re at my grandma’s house…Ah-huh…Ah-huh…Okay, send it to me when it’s done.” He hangs up, and I lean my head to the side, facing him. “Who was that?”

“PR. They’re just trying to do some damage control on their end. Do you need anything, babe?” Sebastian asks, putting his arm around me.

“Maybe some peppermint tea.” I close my eyes, rubbing my forehead. “I had a few friends over last night.”

“You did?”

“Ah-huh. Vodka, gin, and rum.”

Sebastian chuckles. “Let me see if I can get you some of that tea.”

“Absolutely not.” Elenor’s voice pierces my eardrums. “You need to be up and on your feet. You are going to eat something, and drink a giant mug of coffee to liven you up.”

I bury my face in Sebastian’s shoulder, trying not to throw up all over her Persian rug.

“Grandma, I don’t think her stomach can take coffee right now,” Sebastian says.

“Well, I don’t really care. She needs to do her part to control this mess she made,” Elenor says and turns on the television that’s mounted over the fireplace. It’s already loud, and she turns it up even more.

I sit up, wincing at the sudden noise. My head is throbbing even harder now. “Can we turn that down?” I ask weakly.

Elenor ignores me and sits in her armchair, her eyes fixed on the screen as she flips through channels until she finally stops.

“Kallie Sawyer, the woman engaged to Hollywood heartthrob Sebastian Stone, is none other than Kalliana Pearson, the older Pearson sibling who was abducted six years ago by serial killer and rapist Albert Young.”

On the screen plays video footage of Sebastian and me as he tries to lead me through a crowd of reporters—a fucking mob.

My pulse races as I listen to the news report, and I clench my fists in an attempt to control my fear. The memories of my past come flooding back to me in a torrent of terror and anguish. My mind is overwhelmed by emotion and chaos, and it brings another wave of panic and confusion.

“Kallie?” Sebastian’s voice is soft and gentle, like he knows what’s happening inside me.

“I’m…I’m okay,” I say weakly. “Can we turn this off?”

“God, you look terrible, Kallie,” Elenor says. “You can’t be seen looking like that anymore. And why in God’s name were you staying at some sleazy motel?”

“That’s enough, Grandma,” Sebastian says. “Just take it easy on her. She’s been through hell.”

“Through hell?” Elenor’s penciled eyebrows almost touch her hairline. “If she had just been honest from the start about who she really is, then none of this would have happened.”

“We’ll figure this out, Grandma, okay?” He turns to face me. “I know this is rough, but we need to deal with this as quickly as possible. The sooner we do, the sooner the dust will settle.”

Sebastian’s phone rings, and he checks the screen. “It’s my agent,” he says as he answers and puts it on speaker.

“Ashley, you’re on speaker.”

“Sebastian,” a low, sultry voice starts. “Is Miss Pearson with you?”

“It’s Sawyer,” I correct. “Kallie Sawyer.”