Page 116 of What Comes Around

I searched his face. For guilt. For hesitation. For anything.

But there was nothing. Just genuine surprise, almost offense that I’d even asked.

“Did you believe what she said? About me?” I asked quietly.

“I didn’t know what to believe,” he said. “I’d only known you a few months. And at work you were always professional. Reliable. You never gave me a reason to question you.”

He paused, eyes locked on mine.

“It wasn’t my place to judge your personal life.”

I broke eye contact, not ready to let him read more than I intended.

“We’re not close,” I said. “Apple and I. We never were.”

I had mentioned my family before, but only in pieces. This was the part I avoided.

He waited, letting me decide how much to give.

“She’s my father’s affair child,” I added. My voice stayed flat, detached. “He cheated on my mother. Apple was the result.”

Knox’s brows drew together slightly, but he stayed silent.

I continued before I could rethink it.

“My mother was killed when I was a baby,” I continued. “And I grew up thinking Marissa was my real mother. My father married her after my mother died.”

His expression softened, understanding dawning.

“I never understood why she preferred Apple in everything,” I said. “Why nothing I did was ever enough. Not until I learned the truth.”

I swallowed, the memory sharp.

“I left the house at eighteen,” I said. “And recently… Marissa was arrested. Suspicion of killing my real mother all those years ago.”

Knox’s breath caught. “Ashley…”

I shook my head lightly. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.”

“It’s good you did,” he said quietly. “You don’t have to hold all of that alone.”

His hand found mine beneath the covers, his fingers closing around it as he lifted our joined hands and pressed a kiss to my knuckles.

“I’m here now,” he added. “You don’t have to face anything alone again.”

Later, after breakfast, we headed out, Nathan driving while Knox and I sat in the backseat, Titan curled up behind us. The morning felt almost too calm compared to everything still turning over in my head.

My phone buzzed in my hand.

Amy.

I opened the message.

“So… are you ready to be a stepmommy?”

I made a face and locked the screen without replying. Of course she would joke about it.

A few minutes later it buzzed again.