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“Because Addy had sex with Miranda’s brother to get back at Collin for having sex with Miranda.”
Had that been my only motivation? I didn’t think it was that simple. I wished it weren’t true, but I’d felt something for Martin that first night.
Claire shifted to face her mother. “Why did Collin have sex with someone else if he loved Addy?”
“Things got confusing for everyone during that time.” Rachel’s brow creased. “Addy saw Collin’s star rising. She loved him, but she didn’t want to hold him back. They argued about it.”
“And then he had sex with someone else?” Claire looked sad.
Rachel was simplifying. There had been more than one argument between Collin and me. More than one mistake. More than one terrible event to rip us apart.
“Yes.” Rachel nodded.
“Kyle would never do that to me,” Claire said emphatically.
“I’m glad you’re so certain of him.”
“Do you think Collin ever loved Miranda?”
“I don’t know, honey.” Rachel’s expression turned thoughtful. “Miranda certainly loved him. She gave up everything to be with him, even lost her inheritance. Her family turned their backs on her, including her brother, though Martin practically pushed her at Collin. I think it’s possible that he contrived the whole scenario just to get Addy in his bed. Martin is manipulative, and he was always obsessed with her.”
Claire looked like she’d seen a ghost. “Miranda’s brother is Martin?”
I stepped closer like I had earlier when Kyle had gotten those text messages that upset him.
“As in Martin Skellin?” Claire choked out.
“Yes, Martin Skellin. Ella’s father. I hate that man, and Addy does too. I—”
“If Miranda was Martin’s sister,” Claire said slowly as if putting critical pieces together, “that means that Kyle is Martin’s nephew.”
“Yes, I guess it does.” Rachel’s blue eyes narrowed.
My heart didn’t flutter anymore, it felt like it was locked in a tight grip. This was information I knew, but had missed piecing together like I should have in the present.
“Is that why Kyle was in Lakeside?” Rachel asked. “To see his cousin?”
“Kyle doesn’t know his mother was Martin’s sister. He works for Martin.”
Oh no.I grabbed the back of the couch.
“People don’t work for Martin,” Rachel said. “He owns them.”
As Claire’s phone rang, I felt like the room was spinning and my heart struggled to beat. My brain buzzed with all the implications. As if from a great distance, I watched Claire pick up her phone and put it on speaker.
“Claire.” I heard Missy gasp loudly. She sounded out of breath. “It’s me. Martin has Kyle.”
When she started to cry, it suddenly felt like I slammed right back into the present, a moment where all the walls of the past were closing in on me.
“What do you mean?” Claire asked.
“Martin showed up at the apartment. He somehow knew about you and Kyle. He was mad that Kyle disobeyed his order to stay away from you.”
“Oh no.” Claire started to tremble.
Ice water flooded my veins. Martin was trying to fuck up the younger generation like he’d fucked me up.
Missy sucked in a breath, trying to calm herself. “Kyle lied and told Martin that he already got what he wanted from you. That it was over.” Claire’s friend started to sob. “But Martin didn’t believe him. His bodyguard and two other guys I’ve never seen before started beating him up. Kyle fought them off at first, but three against one, he didn’t stand a chance.”
