Page 35 of Mind Maze

“This is ridiculous.”

“No, Bastian, it’s not. It’s reality. Now tell me.”

“I made a small donation to CUP. I didn’tbuyMegan.”

“How much?”

“I said small,” he hisses.

“Bastian, how—”

“One and a quarter.” He throws his hands up in the air. “You happy?”

One million, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. That’s what a robot wife costs these days.

Megan, who came from nothing, certainly is worth something now.

“How much did Megan get?”

Bastian has the gall to laugh, like I’m hilarious. I’m not joking with him. The amusement fades and anger twists his features once again.

“I take care of her,” he sneers. “Better than she’s ever been taken care of in her life. Did you see her fucking handbag, Romy? I paid two grand for that just yesterday because she saw it in a window display and thought it was pretty.”

“She traded her freedom for a purse. You’re unbelievable. I don’t even know you anymore.”

“Get off your high horse and get back on your meds. If anyone isn’t who they used to be, it’s you.”

He storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Anger surges up inside me. I don’t feel like I’ve gotten more answers. Sure, I confirmed what I already knew—that Bastian essentially bought Megan from the Crownes—but nothing new or helpful.

Why, of all people, did Orion present Megan to Bastian? Was it all a strange coincidence or was there something far more sinister going on behind the scenes?

There’s no way they could have determined that I would go looking for Megan. Theo taking me, after my snooping around at their party, was on impulse. Caius stepping in and claiming me as his pretend girlfriend was a direct result of having to clean up what Theo had done. It wasn’t all some intricately set up plan.

Or was it?

My brain begins trying to fit puzzle pieces together. It’s all jumbled together right now, but I feel as though it all connects.

And what about Vivienne? She was my nanny as a child and then she was hired to be Kaitlyn’s nanny all these years later? That’s beyond a coincidence. There’s something there.

I want to lay all the pieces in my brain down on a smooth surface so I can begin arranging them in the way they go. This is complicated and messy, but I know I can piece it all together. I’m a master at this. And now that the fog of my drugs is gone, things are starting to get clearer.

I could walk away from all of this—from everyone—and never look back. It would be so easy.

But I can never leave a puzzle unsolved.

Looks like I’ll be in it until I finish.

Something tells me I’m not going to like what the picture looks like in the end.

Caius

As entertaining as this awkward dinner is, I’m eager for the break when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I catch Romy eyeing me with barely concealed curiosity from across the table.

Unknown Number: You’re not as tough and uncaring as you lead everyone to believe. I know the real you.

My gut tightens.

Me: S?

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