Page 67 of Marrying Off My Husband

“Louise,” I said as her eyebrows pinched, “we need to go. Where is Spencer?”

Her head tilted as the confusion continued to twist her features. “No.”

“Lou,” I said with a shake of my head, “I know we had an argument last night, but…we have to go, your mother–”

“No, you’re not here.”

I stopped, my brain trying to process her words. “I…”

Louise leapt from her seat, backing away from me. “No, you’re not here. Eve left. She left me. Everyone leaves me.”

“No,” I said with a shake of my head, reaching for her. “I’m right here. I–I left last night. I was upset, but I just needed some time. Louise, we need to find Spencer and get out of here.”

She shook her head, her eyes wide. “No. No, Eve…Eve was my friend. She liked me, but she left me. She left me because I’m crazy. I drive people away.”

My lips tugged into a frown at the words. “No, Lou. I’m sorry we fought, but–”

“No!” she shouted, her voice shrill. “No, you aren’t real. You’re just a figment of my imagination.”

Tears filled her eyes, one spilling onto her cheek.

As I tried to determine a way to reach her, a curt knock sounded at her door. “Lou-Lou?” her mother’s voice called.

My heart skipped a beat, and my knees wobbled. I couldn’t let her catch me in here or there would be no hope for Louise. I needed to hide if I would have any chance of helping her.

My chest constricted as my eyes darted around the room before spotting a closed door. I raced to it, diving into the closet as Louise’s mother opened the door.

“Lou-Lou? I hope you’re ready.”

I peered between the louvers in the door as the scene unfolded.

Louise wrapped her arms around her midriff. “Mama…”

“Yes, Lou-Lou?” Constance asked.

Her voice grated on me, so sickly sweet but a total mismatch to her deeds. The woman had drugged her daughter, making her appear crazy, and all so she could nullify her marriage and steal her money. I wanted to pop out and shout at the woman that she wouldn’t get away with it, but I forced myself to remain hidden.

“Mama, Eve visited me.”

“Did she? Well, how interesting.”

“She said she wasn’t mad anymore. She said she was sorry.”

“I’m sure she did. There’s only one problem here, pet.”

Louise lifted her tear-streaked face to her mother’s. “What?”

“That is all in your imagination. Eve isn’t even real.”

Louise’s features pinched as my fingers curled into fists. “Eve is real. Tell her, Louise,” I whispered.

“No. No, Mama, Eve was my friend.”

“In your mind, yes, she was. Eve was a good friend to you, but, sugar, you have to face reality that she isn’t real. Now, you come with Mama, and Mama will take care of everything for you.”

Constance held her hands out to her daughter.

“Wait,” Louise said.

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