I shrugged as though it was no big deal. “I didn’t sign in. The gate was open, so I just walked through. And stop acting like such a stalker. It’s not my fault if there’s someone out there who looks like me. This is London, after all. There’s over nine million people who live here. I’m pretty sure there’s bound to be at least one other five-feet-one, blonde girl wandering around.”
He studied my face as though he was trying to read my lie in my eyes. I hated being untruthful to him. I’d never lied directly to my family before all this—at least never about anything important. But there was no way I could ever let them know I’d been at Jayden’s hotel, and they’d go nuts if they thought there had been something physical between us.
“Go home, Bruno. There’s nothing to see here. My life is as dull as dishwater. I’m sure you have better places to be.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I have plenty of better places to be, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have eyes on you, Ivy. You’re acting differently, and everyone has noticed. Maybe we don’t know exactly what’s going on with you, but we will.”
“You can stalk me all you like,” I repeated, “but you’re wasting your time. Now, I’m going to bed.”
“Fine. Goodnight, Ivy.”
I didn’t bother saying goodnight to him, but ice settled in my heart as I climbed the stairs to bed. I had the feeling I was going to need something far better than a stupid wig and a pair of glasses if I was going to keep this a secret.
I reached my room, and in a sudden panic, hid everything I had that could be linked back to Jay. As much as I didn’t want to delete all his messages, I made myself do it, and I changed his contact number to ‘Prof T’. Worried one of my family members might come in and search my bag, I also hid the disguise and his key down the back of my chest of drawers.
Would it be enough? I couldn’t shake the feeling that it wouldn’t be.
They were going to find out, no matter what I did.
Chapter Thirteen
Jayden
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IBURST INTO THE HOSPITALand rushed up to the desk.
“Hallie Wynter,” I blurted to the nurse sitting behind it. I realised my mistake. “I mean Cornell. Hallie Cornell. What room is she in?”
It was three in the morning when I’d received the call from Tam saying Hallie had gone into labour, but things hadn’t gone to plan.
“Take a right down there,” she said. “Room three-oh-five.”
My shoes squeaked on the flooring as I ran towards the room.
Tam stood in the corridor outside with his hand covering his mouth. My breath lodged in a ball in my throat. Fuck, no. Please let Hallie be okay. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing my sister.