Page 52 of Beautiful Lies

The closest he’s ever let me get to him was handing over his phone. I ended up deleting his entire contact list and the messages that went with it. Each one was scandalous enough to fill an erotica novel.

Meanwhile, I know he’s dug deeper on me. From the things he’s said, I’m sure he had a private investigator look into my life.

I don’t have that kind of luxury, and even if I did, I doubt anyone I could hire would find anything useful to me.

“I know the whole thing’s bizarre.” Mia reaches across the table and taps my knuckles. “Things are moving so fast I can hardly process it myself. But it’s gonna happen, sweetie. I hate saying it, but this is what you agreed to.”

All I can do is nod, because she’s right. “I know. I kind of made this bed myself. Now I have to lie in it.”

Mia’s brows knit together. “Please don’t say it like that. This isn’t some mistake you made from being reckless or frivolous. You agreed to this because you’re a good daughter. You love your mom. And this agreement lets you keep the restaurant for a little longer.”

The mention of the restaurant cuts deep. Tears prick the backs of my eyes, and I look away, trying to hold them back.

But when I glance back at Mia, it’s too late. The tears escape.

“Oh, Isla, please don’t cry.”

Mia reaches for a napkin and hands it to me. I take it and dab at my cheeks, then pull in a deep breath and exhale slowly.

I can’t break down now.

I just can’t.

“I know I’ll be getting all that money in the end, and we really, really need it. But I don’t want to lose the restaurant.”

“I totally get it.” Mia nods, her curls bouncing across tense shoulders. “At least you talked to Knox about it. That took guts.”

“But I’m still in the dark. He made it sound like he’d probably buy me out. But then what? I can’t see him running the restaurant the way we have.”

“Maybe you should wait until closer to the time. Things are probably still too raw to talk about.”

A haggard sigh leaves my lips. “You’re right. Things are too raw. But I don’t know if I can survive the next six months in this kind of uncertainty, especially when Idon’twant him to have the restaurant. When he buys me out, it’ll be his. He’ll be free to do whatever he wants with it.”

An uneasy expression shadows her face and she catches her lower lip between her teeth. After years of reading Mia’s tells, I know that look.

It means her mind’s wandered into treacherous territory. And she’s brewing something reckless.

“I wasn’t going to say anything. Lord knows the last thing you need is one of my wild ideas,” she says, confirming my suspicion.

Usually, I’d be wary. But she’s piqued my interest. “What wild ideadidyou have, Mia?” I can’t restrain the desperation in my voice.

At first, she looks hesitant, then her expression loosens. “Okay. This is just something to think about.” She rubs her palms together. “Maybe a plan for the worst-case scenario.”

“Iamliving the worst-case scenario.”

“I mean worse than now. Like if you marry Knox and hate him with every fiber of your being, and he treats you badly. I couldn’t live with myself if that ever happened.”

“What is it, Mia? Tell me already, before my mind implodes.”

“I was going over the contract, and I noted the main forfeiture clause.”

I groan. “You know I can’t forfeit. If I do, I lose everything. There will be no plan, and I won’t even get the payout at the end.”

Mia smiles, mischief dancing in her eyes. “I’m not talking about you. I mean him.Knox.”

I give her a thin stare. “Knox?”

“Yes. The main forfeiture clause states that if either party pulls out of the agreement, they forfeit all rights and the contract becomes void. The clause applies to both of you. So,hecan pull out, too.”