Page 15 of Tangled In Lies

“You know, I’m not even too surprised about my dad pushing this. He’s greedy and has been very vocal about wanting to work with Montgomery Enterprises. This is his chance to get the piece of the pie he’s been wanting so badly. But to sell off his daughter for it? After everything that happened with Connie?”

I heave a sigh and drop back into the cushions.

The desire to throw a blanket over my head and pretend life isn’t happening is overwhelmingly high.

“Evie.” Mason’s gentle tone is accompanied by the couch dipping next to me, right before he wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me closer. “We’ll figure this out, okay? I mean, they can’tmakeyou, right?”

No, they can’t.

That’s my only silver lining.

Am I going to lose my family and possibly more if I refuse?

It’s not like they hold you in high regard anyway.

No . . . no, they don’t.

Because they blame you for your sister’s death.

Because it was my fault.

It’s my fucking fault she died.

“Shh.” Mason rubs my back. “You’re starting to hyperventilate. You need to breathe.”

I gasp for air and close my eyes. I was so lost in my head, the past dragging me into its dark depths like so often, I didn’t even realize what I was doing.

Inhaling deeply, I try to calm my erratic breathing. Cold sweat runs down my back, and my eyes burn.

Sometimes, I really wish it had been me in that car accident and not my sister.

I bet she would have had a better shot at life and happiness. She always saw the cup half full instead of half empty, even when she was ruining her life.

“I don’t know exactly how, Angie, but it’ll all work out. You just need to trust me to do the right thing, even if you think I’m making a mistake right now. Phoenix is my saving grace, and I need him more than you’ll ever understand.”

I was shaking uncontrollably when she said those words to me, every word piercing my whole being once again. Like I was the problem in that situation and couldn’t see the beauty before me. Like she wasn’t the one cutting out my heart by marrying Phoenix.

I will not make the same mistake she did. No way in hell am I going to marry that man.

I can’t.

I wouldn’t survive it.

“Babe, look at me.” Ruby crouches before me on the floor and takes my hands into hers.

After a moment, I manage to lift my gaze.

“Breathe with me, okay?”

Shit. Did I lose it again? I pause and peer down at my heaving chest. Yup, way too fast.

“Evie, focus.” Ruby gets in my face again, her eyes narrowed. “I need you with me.”

It’s hard to read her face. She might be close to either slapping me or starting to cry. Fifty-fifty. Since I don’t want her to do either, I drive through the thick fog in my mind and focus on her as best as possible.

She nods. “Good. Deep breath in . . . and then out.”

I stare at her mouth and follow her instructions.

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