CHAPTER 39: LIAM

She's so stubborn.

I've told her several times we don't need to attend this evening's event, the All White pool party, but, she insists on going.

I'm not sure why but she's so adamant.

"Help me zip this up please," she turns her bare back to me.

I'm in her room to persuade her not to go, only to meet her almost ready, still insisting on attending.

They'll be raw on her, they'll devour her, and I'll try my best to protect her, but, at the end of the day, some damage will still be done.

Now, I've gotten some annoyingly concerning texts and calls regarding Emma's background, and, of course, some unreasonable, blatant rumors, and lies that sound too stupid to be believed. But, of course, people believe what they want to.

Even though that may be some poorly conceived lie, too obvious to be true. As long as it fits their foolish narrative they gobble it up.

Yes, this may be quite hypocritical of me. These are people I was raised among, people I was raised to interact with, raised with the s