The confession simply fell out, the way the truth does when it has been held too long.

And her fiance, Adam, turned very slowly to look at her.

“You did what?” Jessica’s face went white as she understood, far too late, what she had just said, and to whom, and in front of how many people.

Chapter 9 — We Were Protecting Both of You

My father grabbed my wrist.

“You are destroying this family,” he hissed.

I looked down at his hand on my wrist, and then up at him.

“Let go of me,” I said.