Page 146 of Lavish

His jaw flexed.

“It was me.”

“Erik!” I exclaimed, and I turned away from him, running a hand through my hair as I paced.

For years, I remembered the night it came on the news about Omar being arrested. They’d only said a whistleblower. Mama and Daddy were shocked. Everyone was.

No one ever said it was us.

That we did it.

That it was my family who took them down.

“That’s why he hated me?” I asked him. “That’s why you’ve both been at each other’s throats?”

Erik looked away and nodded.

“I did it,” he said. “I told them everything. I didn’t do it to hurt you or Miles—I did it because it was right. Omar neededhelp. I have a responsibility to this town and what it looks like. And no one else was going to step up.”

I stood there, reeling, my heart cracking wide open. I didn’t even know who I was mad at more—Miles for keeping secrets, or Erik for doing the same.

I remembered the way Miles looked after the scandal—hollowed out, humiliated. I remembered what people said about the Whitmores, how their name got dragged through every gutter in Lush. And all that time…it wasus.

Erik.

My own damn brother.

My hands trembled, rage and betrayal coiling tight inside me like a snake about to strike.

“You never thought I deserved to know? Either of you?”

My voice cracked at the end, and I hated it. Hated how small I sounded.

The door opened, and Mama finally came in.

“Oh, you’re both here,” she said. “Let’s talk about your disrespectful behavior, Serena.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

I glanced at Erik, and he didn’t even look at me.

“You defending that boy at our dinner when you need to be on your family’s side first and foremost. Or has living with him corrupted your brain?”

“I just think we should move on,” I said.

“Move on?”

Erik inhaled deeply.

“Move on?” Mama repeated. “I should just…move on.” Her hands flexed at her sides. “You want toforgivethe same family that almost ruined ours? That trial nearly ruined us like it did them. People were questioningus. Wearethis town. You think because you’re playing house with Miles Whitmore I’m supposed topretend?”

“Mama—”

“No. You listen.” Her voice cracked like a whip. “I carried this family’s name on my back when your grandfather died. I rebuilt this company from nothing while people whispered that King women couldn’t lead. I fought for respect from men who wanted to pat me on the head and make me disappear. And now you want tomove on?”

Her chest heaved once, and then she narrowed her eyes at me.

“You are not obligated to protecthim, Serena. You are obligated to protectthis family.”