96. I want to hear it from you

VIOLET

“Lily...” Her name on my lips was like a bitter poison, ready to ruin whatever semblance of peace I’d been feeling with Cole all these weeks. Suddenly, everything was painted in the shades of doubts and betrayal. Why didn’t he tell me?

As I stood there, frozen in uncertainty, Lily snarled at me, her eyes blazing with unhinged fury. She advanced on me, but Elle and Bree pulled me back and as if realizing that we weren’t alone she faltered within touching distance. Her voice trembled with raw emotion as she gritted out, “Yes, Lily. The love of his life. My Nicholas,” she spat, each word dripping with bitterness and resentment, and making deep gauges in my chest. “The woman whose place you took. The woman whose life you stole.”

My heart pounded in my chest, my mind reeling with disbelief and a part of me remembering the same words that her brother had spoken to me too. I had never imagined I would come face to face with her, especially not like this—in my own home. Was it? Was it