Page 39 of The Oath We Give

“I like to keep my private life private.”

“Of course.” He nods, rolling his lips together. “It’s just, with your mental health issues, I don’t know how someone like you will be able to handle a serious relationship. It’ll be a lot on the ol’ brain once you take over fully, won’t it?”

Even if I had schizophrenia, where the fuck does he get off?

Daniel wouldn’t know mental health if it hit him in the face with a rock. Even though I’m sure he’ll commit suicide by fifty from some form of late-term depression.

He has no idea what anyone with that disorder is capable of. What they can and cannot do. To him, it’s simply a villain origin story in thriller movies. In his eyes, I’m a violent, uncontrollable manic. Which could not be further from the truth for those who live with schizophrenia.

But it’s easier for society to demonize mental health than take the time to actually learn about it.

“Who is the lucky girl, by the way? Anyone from the Springs? I’ve lived here all of my forty-five years. I doubt I wouldn’t know her.”

I knew he’d ask. Why wouldn’t he? He knows I’m lying. At the very least, he’s hoping I am. Anything to get another shot at my job.

I just don’t have an answer or even a lie ready.

“Coraline Whittaker.”

My head snaps to my right, just as her smooth hand loops through my arm, holding my forearm, and she leans into my body. The smell of lavender wafts beneath my nose.

She looks up at me, batting her dark eyelashes as if telling me to play along. Is this her way of repaying the favor? Trying to help? Coraline has no clue what she just signed herself up for. What her doing this means to Daniel, to my future.

Could the cursed woman of Ponderosa Springs be my saving grace?

“Lucky girl.” She hums with a smile that doesn’t quite touch her eyes as she returns her gaze to Daniel. “You work with Silas?”

Little needles prick the back of my neck at how she says my name, reminding me how she said it the other night. A feeling I believed long gone pools in my gut.

Desire.

Desire to hear her say my name again.

Gasp it. Moan it. Scream it.

My teeth sink into the inside of my cheek as Daniel’s eyes widen slightly, just now taking in her presence, shocked that she even exists, I’m sure.

“Indeed.” He clears his throat, shaking off the surprise but still eyeing her in a way that makes me uncomfortable. “I just saw your mother, Regina, before she left. She didn’t mention anything about you having a boyfriend.”

Her sharp nails burrow into the fabric of my jacket as she puts on a charming smile, straightening her spine.

“Stepmother,” she corrects. “Some people aren’t keen on discussing other’s private affairs. But it seems you are? A bit gossipy, isn’t it?”

Daniel’s smug smile seems to melt away, his eye twitching and masculinity deflating at the way Coraline looks down her nose at him, even though she is several inches shorter, even in heels.

This world taught her how to wear her wealth, then punished her for it. But it doesn’t take away how she owns it, like a shield.

“Huh,” he hums, furrowing his eyebrows. “Regina has always seemed like the kind of woman that is quick to share exciting news. Her step daughter getting engaged seems pretty exciting to me.”

There it is.

This is going to go over like shit.

My little white lie about having a girlfriend had spiraled into me telling my father I’d already been planning to propose. I’d panicked—he was grilling me, demanding to meet an imaginary girl.

I told him what he needed to hear so he didn’t need to worry. I’d be able to figure it out, and he could continue to focus on the slim possibility of getting better.

I took over Hawthorne Tech to relieve stress, not give him more. I will not fail him, not after everything he’s done for me. I can’t.