Page 203 of Dream On, Liar

“Samyra…”

“Ishaan is Rihaan’s half brother. Their had had an affair with Ishaan’s Mum for basically the entire time he was married to Rihaan’s Mum. But their dad didn’t tell anyone about Ishaan’s existence. And I’m talking, none of them knew about Ishaan being their half brother up until two years ago.”

I paused. “Rihaan said that after we’d met, his family was going through something big that had taken over completely.”

She nodded. “They haven’t—and from what I know—are never going to tell the truth to the world. It’s not what Ishaan wants, or their dad. So when you told him you wanted whatever you did a secret…”

“I know.”

“You basically offered him the one thing he told you he didn’t want.”

My eyes burned before I could stop them.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know you didn’t.” Her voice softened. “But that doesn’t mean he heard anything different.”

My fingers moved restlessly over my thumbnail.

“I don’t know if there’s a way to…fix this. Or even if I want to.”

I looked towards the window. Outside, the sky had turned the same dull grey London seemed to wear so often, as though it had forgotten there were other colours.

“Why not?”

“I’m scared.”

“Of what?”

My voice dropped. “Everything.”

The word seemed to settle between us.

“My dad. My career. Losing the position I have worked my entire life for.”

I swallowed.

“And maybe losing him. I’m scared that if I pick him completely, there might come day I’m not enough. I’d given up everything for that.”

Samyra’s expression softened completely, like she understood the thought far deeper than someone else could.

“So you chose the one thing you could control.”

I looked at her.

“My career.”

“You chose certainty.” She said it quietly, but the words hit cleanly. “You chose the thing you already knew you would have because you had spent your whole life earning it.”

I rubbed my palms together, suddenly aware of how tense my body still was.

“And he was right.”

“About what?”

“That I was finally getting somewhere.”

Her brows pulled together. “What?”