Page 100 of Twisted Obsession

“For what? Loving my brother? For being there for him in his darkest hour? For believing his innocence? For waiting for him for four years even though I kept pushing you to move on? I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“For what?”

“For my brother being such a dick.”

The very idea that they would blame Darius for my behavior had me straightening. I caught Lavena’s wrist. “He’s not! He honestly isn’t.”

“Is it us?” Lavena pressed. “Because we—”

I shook my head. “Maybe a little at first, but no. It’s no one’s fault. It just is.”

“Okay, I am very confused now,” Kas mumbled. “You want to be together, but you can’t be together. It’s not because of us or Darius, but you’re still sitting here looking like a trash panda rather than being with the guy you love. Is anyone else confused?”

The other two nodded, all eyes fixed on me, waiting for me to unravel the mystery and chaos that had become my entire life, but as an apparently terrible liar, I had to be careful how much more I could tell them.

I settled for a partial truth.

“Alexender has decided it would be a good idea for Darius to marry someone better suited for him.”

I had no actual knowledge of this. It was exclusively based on what little I’d heard at dinner, but it was pretty obvious that that was where it was all headed.

The absolute chaos and outrage my words invoked was an understatement. Questions ranging from furious to threatening pelleted me from all corners until I had to put my palms over my ears and yell for silence.

“Who?” Lavena demanded the minute my hands lowered.

“Better suited?” Kas exclaimed. “Who is better suited than you?”

“How did you find out? Sasha shouted, overlapping Kas. “Did Darius tell you?”

I put my hand up again to stop them. “Everyone stop yelling!” I yelled.

Lavena raised her palm when the other two opened their mouths, but her sharp, narrowed eyes stayed on my face. “Who told you?”

I hesitated. “No one? I overheard Alexander talking to Darius at dinner the other night.”

Lavena blinked. “My dad knew about this?”

“He’s the one who found her,” I murmured, dropping my attention to the blanket.

“Who?” Lavena interrupted. “What’s the bitch’s name?”

Despite everything, I didn’t blame Abilene Beaumont for getting the life I wanted. It wasn’t her fault she was born into a position where the only way she could keep her position was to marry. The whole thing seemed so barbaric and outdated but it was keeping Darius alive, so I wasn’t complaining.

“She’s not a bitch,” I argued. “She’s just doing what she’s told, too. We don’t know her story. She could be very sweet.”

The trio exchanged glances.

“Do you think the combination of old chicken wings and stale Oreos has muddled her brain?” Kas mumbled to Sasha. Then to me, she snapped, “This bitch is trying to take your man. She’s not sweet. She needs to be killed.”

“Jesus, Kas!” I gasped. “She’s not taking my man. I don’t understand why you guys are so angry—”

“We don’t understand why you’re not,” Sasha shouted, cutting me off. “How are you so calm right now?”

“I’m not calm!” I snapped, feeling myself crack a little inside all over again. “I’m … broken and I hurt so much, but this is how it is, right? She’s the ideal person for him and…” I cut myself off because I couldn’t argue my reasoning properly without telling them everything. I had no defense, and I was suddenly so tired. I was exhausted and drained, and I just wanted to tip over on the sofa and sleep until the ache in my chest was gone.

“What do you mean ideal?” Lavena asked.

It took several seconds of picking my words carefully before dropping them into the space. “I get why you guys are upset about this,” I began, careful to keep at my focus on the pale thread lines woven into the comforter. “You’re thinking aboutme and my feelings, but Darius needs someone who is from his world, right? Someone who understands—”

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