Page 95 of Darn Knit All

“That’s what you think.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You know something I don’t? ’Cause so far the judges have been pretty clear about their opinions.”

Jude smirked, an ugly expression for such a beautiful man. “I know your little secret. You lied. Your relationship is a sham. And tonight, everyone else is going to know it too.”

The breath caught in my chest, and I had to work to keep my tone even. “Bullshit. Mai and I are the real deal.”

“Is that so?” He pulled his phone from his pocket and held it out to me. There in technicolor were texts I’d exchanged with a woman I’d tried dating about six months ago. She’d been nice, but we didn’t have any chemistry. We’d met for one date before agreeing there wasn’t anything to pursue.

Because you’d been in love with Mai.

“Either you’re a cheater, or you’re lying. Which is it?”

I swallowed. “How do you know these aren’t fake?”

He chuckled. “This woman happens to be my cousin. I know you met up for a date—she recognized you from the promotions.”

Fuck.

“So?” I said with a shrug. “Mai and I were on a break. We worked it out.”

“You really think people will believe that?” He chuckled, sliding the phone into his pocket. “I know the editor of theAstipia Daily. Once these are out in the open, I own the narrative.” He leaned in, his expression a smirking mess of nasty. “And how many others will come forward?”

None since his cousin, but there’d been more before her.

I’d overlooked my dating history when convincing Mai to join the show, too focused on wanting to give her this opportunity to recognize that I needed to protect her from my past. But that didn’t matter now. All the matter was that Mai and I were real.

I made a dismissive gesture, begrudgingly amused by Jude’s threat. “So go ahead. Mai and I will tell the truth. It’s not a big deal.”

“No?” Jude inclined his head toward the bathroom door. “Yourgirlfriendfell apart when they handed her candles. You really think she’s going to cope when your relationship is dissected on every national morning show?”

I sobered as the implication hit me, squeezing my chest and turning my blood to ice.

I could blow this off and work with the network to brazen our way through it—but I’d seen how gossip ripped people apart. Even a whiff of scandal resulted in people’s lives being destroyed as they were dragged through the mud.

I refused to allow that to happen to Mai.

I searched Jude’s face, trying to understand his motivation. “Is this about me? Or are you scared she’s going to beat you?”

Jude’s gaze flicked away, the only concession to my accusation.

“What do you want?” I ground out.

“For you to lose.”

“Why?”

“I’ve read up on you. What have you achieved? Nothing. You’ve ridden on the coattails of your brother for more than a decade.” His humorless chuckle crackled down my spine. “No one expects you to win. You’re a barely functioning human being.”

His comments landed a minor blow, but I brushed them off. “We got to the final, didn’t we?”

“Shedid. You’re just lucky the other teams performed poorly.”

He turned away to wash his hands. Pity the water couldn’t wash away his spite.

I clenched my jaw, fighting for calm. “What exactly are you asking?”

Jude didn’t even spare me a glance. “Throw the game. Unless you have two-hundred and fifty thousand lying around to pay me to silence the story?”

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