238 Crashing and Burning

(Winona)

I watch from across the room as Cass and Gabriel saunter away, and my stomach knots up in frustration. I don’t even have to see them sit down to know where they’re headed. Judy’s table. Of course.

It’s the one place they can be where I won’t go near. It feels calculated, like Judy’s pulling strings again, positioning herself as the puppet master.

I let out my breath, my gaze narrowing as I try to piece together how it’s come to this. Cass was supposed to be on my side. She was supposed to be part of my family.

Now, here she is, sitting with Judy, the woman who tried to destroy my life so many times.

The woman who succeeded in doing that for so long.

“Don’t let her get to you,” Lisa says softly, sipping her champagne. She’s trying to sound calm, but I can see the annoyance flicker in her eyes. “Judy thrives on this. You know that.”

“I know,” I reply, my voice tight. “But it’s hard when she’s using Cass as a pawn in whatever game she’s playing now.”

Lisa nods, clearly understa