Chapter 4

Seeing Julian at Adrian’s house makes me stop.

So much for Adrian promising he wouldn’t send me anywhere until I recovered.

I get into Julian’s car and go with him to dinner with his parents.

When we leave the restaurant, a familiar voice calls out.

“Julian. Good to see you.”

Adrian’s parents are standing a few feet away.

Adrian and Vanessa are behind them.

Adrian’s expression darkens the second he sees me.

Julian gives Mr. Hawthorne a polite nod.

“I brought my girlfriend to dinner with my parents.”

Adrian’s parents look awkward.

They were never shy about saying I wasn’t good enough for their family.

Now they have to smile.

“What a coincidence,” Mrs. Hawthorne says. “Adrian brought his fiancée to dinner too. Why don’t you join us?”

Julian smiles.

“Sure.”

Adrian’s face gets even colder.

At the table, almost everything Adrian’s family orders is spicy.

I have never handled spicy food well.

Adrian used to order something mild for me.

After Vanessa started spending more time around him, everything slowly changed to what she liked.

I am picking around the peppers when Julian looks at Adrian’s wrist.

“That bracelet. Claire gave it to you, didn’t she?”

I look up.

It is the simple silver bracelet I bought Adrian years ago for his birthday.

He once told me he would wear it forever.

Now he gives a short laugh.

“Some cheap thing. You want it?”

“No, thanks.”

Julian slides the plate of grilled shrimp toward me.

Before I can take one, Adrian hands the entire plate to a server.

“Take this back. It’s too greasy.”

The table goes quiet.

Julian leans back.

“You seem pretty bothered by what my girlfriend eats.”

Adrian’s eyes turn cold.

“Why would I be? I barely know her.”

His father quickly cuts in.

“Anyway, Julian, you should bring your girlfriend to Adrian and Vanessa’s wedding.”

I keep eating.

Strangely, I don’t feel much of anything.

After dinner, Julian offers to drive me back.

Adrian follows us outside.

“Julian, don’t let her fool you.”

His voice is full of disgust.

“You’ve heard the rumors. She’s been seeing other men.”

He doesn’t know the man who sent me medicine is standing right beside me.

Julian starts to speak.

I put a hand on his arm.

“You should go.”

He studies me for a second, then nods.

When he leaves, I turn to Adrian.

“You’re the one marrying someone else.”

His jaw tightens.

“That’s different. Vanessa is just what my family expects.”

The same excuse.

He sends me out with his friends.

He brings Vanessa home.

And somehow, both are supposed to mean nothing.

I laugh.

Adrian stares at me.

“You really think you’re getting into the Whitmore family?”

His voice turns cruel.

“If Julian wants someone outside his circle, he can still do better than you.”

I nod.

Then I say, “You’re the one who sent me to him.”

Adrian’s face hardens.

“Fine.”

Three days later, Ryan calls.

“What did you do?”

My stomach drops.

“The Hawthornes stopped paying for Mom’s treatment.”

My hand starts shaking.

I call Adrian again and again but there's no answer anymore.

Ryan calls back less than an hour later.

“Mom’s in the ICU. Claire, fix this. Apologize to Adrian. Beg him if you have to.”

I keep calling.

Finally, someone answers.

But it isn’t Adrian.

Vanessa.

Her voice is almost cheerful.

“Sorry. Adrian took me away for a few days. He isn’t checking his phone.”

I close my eyes.

“Please put him on.”

She says nothing.

“Vanessa, please. My mom is in the ICU. Just let me talk to him.”

The line goes dead.

Vanessa ends the call just as Adrian walks over.

“Who was that?”

“Work.” She slips his phone behind her back. “You said no business on this trip.”

Adrian nods, though something still feels wrong.

Later, when Vanessa goes down to the beach, he finally gets his phone back.

The moment he unlocks it, his expression changes.

Hundreds of missed calls.

All from Claire.

Then he sees the messages.

At first:

I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please don’t stop Mom’s treatment.

Then:

Adrian, I’m begging you. I’ll do whatever you want. You can send me with anyone you want. Just help my mom.

He scrolls faster.

But three hours ago, the messages stop.

His chest tightens.

Then he sees the last message on his phone.

It isn’t from Claire.

It is from Julian.

Thank you, Mr. Hawthorne.