Caelan nodded and pulled back slightly. “Wait here. Let me have someone bring you clothes.”
Caelan nodded and stepped back slightly. He made a quick phone call, speaking in low tones about bringing clothes.
Ten minutes later, Edward knocked and delivered a black shopping bag. Inside I found a simple knitted dress and comfortable flats.
Inside I found a black knitted dress, simple and elegant, paired with comfortable flats. The fabric felt soft between my fingers.
Caelan stepped into the hallway while I changed. To my surprise, the dress fit well enough.
“Thank you,” I said as he parked.
‘Call me if you need anything.” His fingers squeezed mine briefly. “Anything at all.”
I walked toward the front door, fishing my key from my purse. Behind me, I heard his car engine fade into the distance.
The house felt different as I stepped inside. Quieter.
‘Sable? You’re back?”
Victoria’s voice carried from the living room, followed by the sharp click of heels on marble. She appeared at the entryway, surprise flickering across her features.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked, not bothering with pleasantries.
‘Pack business. He had to handle some territorial disputes.” Victoria smoothed her skirt. “Mary’s on vacation too.”
‘I see.”
“You left early last night? Daisy was looking for you.” Victoria’s tone carried that familiar note of false concern. “We were worried.”
I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message to Dad: Having dinner with Caelan’s family tomorrow evening. Will call you later.
“Where did you go?” Victoria pressed, following me as I moved toward the stairs.
Why does she need to know everything?
“Just some business to handle.
“What kind of business? Sable, you can’t just disappear without explanation, especially at Daisy’s party.”
I paused on the bottom step. “Excuse me?”
Leaving during your sister’s birthday celebration. It was quite rude.”
‘I had an emergency.”
“What emergency could possibly be more important than family?”
The question hung between us like a challenge. I turned to face her fully.
‘Sorry. Are you satisfied now?”
Victoria’s eyes flashed with something sharp. “A little courtesy goes a long way! You’re just like your mother in that regard!”
What the hell does that mean?
‘Don’t bring my mother into this.”
“Why not? You think she was some kind of saint?”
There was something in Victoria’s expression I’d never seen before. A kind of vicious satisfaction that made my skin crawl.
‘I don’t want to hear your nonsense. I turned back toward the stairs. ‘I’m leaving.”
But Victoria stepped into my path, blocking my way.
‘Your precious, perfect mother was a homewrecker! The words exploded from her throat in a shriek that echoed through the foyer.
I staggered backward. “You’re insane.”
Rodrigo and I were engaged first! She destroyed everything!”
The world tilted sideways. No. That’s impossible. Mom wouldn’t…
“You’re lying.”
Victoria’s smile turned cruel. “Ask anyone. Ask your father himself if you want proof.
‘You can verify it with anyone you choose,” Victoria continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. ‘See if I’m telling the truth.”
I pushed past her and rushed outside, my vision blurring. The air felt too thin, like I couldn’t get enough oxygen into my lungs.
A taxi was coming down the street. I flagged it desperately.
‘Where to?” the driver asked as I collapsed into the back seat.
I gave him Sarah’s address, my voice barely functioning.
This can’t be real. Mom wasn’t like that. She would never…
But Victoria’s expression had been too satisfied, too certain. Like she’d been waiting years to drop this bomb.
The taxi pulled up outside Sarah’s house twenty minutes later. I threw money at the driver and stumbled up the front walk.
“Sarah! Open the door!”
My fists pounded against the wood frantically. Please be home. Please.
The door opened to reveal Sarah in a cotton bathrobe, her gray hair mussed from sleep.
“Sable? Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
Victoria said my mother was a homewrecker. Tell me it’s not true.”
Sarah’s face went completely white. Her hand gripped the doorframe for support.
Oh God. Her reaction…
“Come inside, Sarah whispered. “Sit down.”
“Tell me she’s lying. I followed her into the living room, my legs barely supporting me. Please tell me Victoria made it up.”
Sarah sat heavily on the couch and patted the cushion beside her.
“Sable… I hoped you would never have to know this.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. I doubled over, pressing my hands to my stomach.
“No. No, this isn’t happening.”
“Victoria and your father were indeed engaged,” Sarah said quietly. “Before your mother came to the pack.”
My water glass slipped from numb fingers. Sarah caught it just before it crashed to the floor.
‘Then what happened?”
*Your mother arrived, and… things changed. Your father fell in love with her.”
“So she really…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
‘Yes.”
The simple word shattered whatever was left of my composure. Tears poured down my cheeks as I collapsed against Sarah’s shoulder.
‘I’m so sorry, darling.” Sarah’s arms wrapped around me, holding me while I sobbed. ‘I’m so very sorry.”
We sat like that for what felt like hours-me crying while Sarah rubbed my back and whispered soft comfort. When the worst of it passed, I pulled away and wiped my face with shaking hands.
‘I should go.”
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