Walker put himself between her father and Scarlett. “That’s enough.” He assumed the “at ease” position, but adrenaline pumped through his veins, and he was ready for anything.

Her father’s eyes hardened, and his jaw flexed. “You’re an imposter. Please leave.” He turned to Scarlett. “Why didn’t you come to me?” His voice thundered.

“He’s not leaving, Father.” Scarlett’s voice was soft, but she moved to his side. “He’s here as my guest.”

Her father scowled at Walker. “I told you what would happen if you messed with us.”

Grant stepped next to Walker’s other side. “Oh, you mean that you would ruin me? You won’t do that, because you don’t want us to go to the press with this story.”

Her father’s face contorted with anger. He swung to Scarlett. “How dare you put our family in this predicament? How dare you drag the Powers name into this mayhem? You ungrateful child. I got you every part you’ve ever had, and this is how you repay me.” He rubbed at his face with a shaking hand. “I protected you when your mother died.”

Now Scarlett shouted. “You hated her! You cheated on her!” She let out a sob and pointed to Liz. “You brought her into our family right after Mother died.”

“Stop it!” Her father hollered, putting up his hands. He grabbed at his chest, and Walker wondered if the man would keel over. “Just stop this!” Her father trembled. “I’ve been trying to talk to you, to tell you!”

Liz took his arm. “Tyrone, are you okay?”

“Don’t!” He shrugged her off.

Brent put his hand on his father’s shoulder. “Dad …”

Her father put his hand up and turned to Liz. “Tell them the truth.”

Liz looked upset. “Don’t do this here.”

“Please.” He reached out to steady himself on Brent.

Liz’s lip twitched and she shook her head. “It’s fake.”

All of them stared at her. “What are you talking about?” Scarlett asked.

Her father squeezed his eyes shut, then let out a breath. “The Tyrone fortune was crumbling, and Liz …”

Liz grunted and crossed her arms. “I have money.”

Walker’s mind was spinning. This made no sense.

“I wanted to marry him,” Liz said with a shrug, “but he never would, until his money was gone.”

Brent turned to his father. “How … what?”

Tyrone shook his head. “I made some bad investments, and Liz bailed us out.” His face crumbled to sadness. He turned to Scarlett, then Brent. “I’m so sorry I failed you.”

No one spoke for a few moments. Walker looked back, dizzy from this soap opera family, and saw the stunned horror on Scarlett’s face as tears trickled down her cheeks. “So none of it’s real?” she asked. “Nothing was real?”

Her father shrugged, nodding at Walker. He blinked and looked out of sorts. “I-I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?”

Walker couldn’t believe this. “Are you comparing yourself to Scarlett?”

Her father threw up his hands. “I’m a fake, so I guess it fits.”

Scarlett’s face hardened, and she glared at her father. “You’re right. Everything between Walker and me was fake. Everything between you and me is fake. None of my professional life was my own, so I guess I’m just a fake, too.”

Walker didn’t like the way this had gone down. He took her hand, but she yanked it away, not even looking at him. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I can’t.”

Kurt moved next to her. “I was never fake, Scarlett. I still love you.”

“Go away, Kurt.” Scarlett broke free from the group and headed for the door.

Kurt wouldn’t let her go. “Scarlett—” He took her hand. “No.”

She tried to yank her hand back. “Stay away.”

Unable to stop himself, Walker crossed to Kurt and put a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back. “Leave her alone, man.”

Kurt turned. His eyes were fierce, and before Walker knew it, Kurt was throwing a punch.

Of course, the punch was lazy and civil and almost in slow motion. Walker simply sidestepped and pushed the guy down.

Kurt didn’t stay down. He got up and went after Walker all messily, going at him with his head first in what Walker recognized as really bad football form.

Once again, Walker sidestepped and pushed him down. Kurt ended up falling and smashing his face to the ground pretty hard. His nose started bleeding.

“Stop it!” Scarlett rushed to Kurt’s side.

Walker was ticked. “What do you want, Scarlett?”

She touched the blood on Kurt’s head.

“Scarlett?” Walker asked his voice softer.

She yanked part of the bottom of her dress and used it to wipe at Kurt’s nose. “I can’t believe this. I’m a fake. We were fake. Just go!”

Feeling like a crazed animal, Walker didn’t remember rushing out, didn’t remember going into a run on the same trail he’d been at yesterday morning, the same trail where Marissa had, in fact, been eavesdropping on his conversation with Grant.

As if summoned by Walker’s thoughts, Grant caught up, falling into pace with him. “Dude, slow up. Let’s talk.”

Walker was done talking. All he knew was that he would finish this little charade. Then he would be out and rowing at his lake house. “Go back! I need some air!” He kicked up his speed, and Grant was left in the dust.