I force a smile on my lips and nod to the lounger next to me.
Kai sits just as Westcott returns with our drinks.
“Iced coffee, for you, Miss Miller,” Westcott says, handing her a glass. “And mimosas to share.” He places the pitcher on the end table between us and then pours each of us a glass.
“If you need anything else, I’ll just be in the kitchen, and I’ll check on you soon,” Westcott says.
I nod and sip my drink, waiting for him to leave before I speak.
“You look like shit,” I say, not sugarcoating anything. That’s not my style; I’m blunt and honest to a fault.
“Oh, um, I thought this was going to be a civil conversation where we try to get along for Enzo’s sake. I’m sorry if I was mistaken, I’ll just go,” Kai says.
“Sit down,” I say, jerking on her arm to keep her in the chair as she tries to get up. “I’m not trying to be a jerk; I’m just honest and have no filter.”
Kai glares but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m not going to apologize for anything I say either, so don’t expect that. All I was trying to say is that you’ve been through hell, and it shows.”
Kai narrows her eyes. “That doesn’t sound any better than what you said before.”
I sigh and lift my hair from my neck where a scar similar to the one she will wear forever on her neck lies.
Kai’s eyes grow big, and her hand automatically goes up to trace the thin line.
“I used to look similar to you—not as bad. I only suffered for a few months before my own savior came for me, but I have the scars. With time, I’ve hidden them. Most with plastic surgery. Some with tattoos.” I hold out my wrist where the word beautifully is written in script over a scar on my wrist where I tried to kill myself rather than keep dealing with the pain.
“All I’m trying to tell you is that you and I are more alike than you may think. And I’m trying to prevent you the same heartache I once suffered.”
“You look pretty happy to me,” Kai says as her eyes travel over my healed body.
“You of all people should know you can’t judge a book by its cover. I look happy, but I will never be happy again.”
Kai bites her lip as she finally understands what I’m saying. “Tell me. Tell me everything. Enzo saved you. He took care of you. You loved him, and then he ripped out your heart.”
I nod. And the same thing will happen to you.
“Tell me, I need to hear the truth. I need to hear it so I can let him go.”
I shake my head. “You will never be able to let Enzo Black go. Trust me, I’ve tried. But hopefully, you haven’t fallen as deeply in love with him as I did.”
“Tell me,” she whispers again.
I close my eyes, letting myself travel back to the worst moments of my life.
“THIS IS OUR NEW HOME, LADYBUG,” Mom says, squeezing me hard to her chest as I stare up at the big dark mansion.
It’s ugly and big and horrible. It looks more like a medieval castle than a home, and not the good kind. The kind with evil ghosts, and monsters, and dank rooms.
“What do you think?” Mom asks.
I can’t tell her any of that. Mom has a job as a maid here. It won’t pay much, but we get a free room in the guesthouse, and the money will be enough to feed us so I can’t complain. And hopefully, the guest house won’t give me the same creepy vibe the house does.
“I think we will have fun here.”
She grins and squeezes my scrawny ten-year-old body tighter. “We will.”
She lifts one of the two boxes from our car and carries it to the guest house. I follow, carrying the other box that contains all of our belongings.