The next twenty-four hours pass in a blur. For a while, I sit there on the floor of the near-empty house, my phone still dinging upstairs, all while I stare at a blank white wall, wondering what to do next.

I’m finally numb.

I’ve shed all the tears that were in me, and I’m done. Done caring. Done worrying. Just…done.

Gathering myself up, I convince myself to shower and pack to busy myself with something to do. Inside the shower, I scrub my skin until it’s red and patchy, trying to erase the memory of Casper from my body. I wish I never let him touch me. I wish I never knew how good it felt when he touched me. If memories could be erased, I’d get rid of every last one. Too bad it’s not like fixing a mistake on a canvas. A little water, a little scrubbing, and the smudge is gone. As if it never happened. If I could scrub Casper away…but I can’t. He’s imprinted himself across my heart.

Hot tears fill my eyes. Guess I had a few more left after all.

Once I’m dressed and packed, I head out the door just as someone is on their way in. A twenty-something Dev Patel lookalike stops me from reaching for the door handle. His thick black brows raise when he sees me. “Who are you and what are you doing in my house?”

His house?

Crap.

This day just keeps getting better.

“Casper brought me here,” I say, hoping the two of them know each other. Please, God, cut me a break here.

His mouth hangs open as he scratches his shadowed jaw. “Then…you’re his wife?”

The word makes me flinch.

Facebook. Right.

That’s going to take some getting used to.

“Yeah, I am.” Unfortunately. “I’m Amelia, and I apologize, I didn’t realize this was your house.”

“Rashi,” he says, stepping inside. “It’s fine. Casper is one of my best friends. He always crashes here when he’s in town. I rarely use the place anyway. Just so happens, I’m here on business…ah, where is he, by the way?”

A sharp twinge shoots through me at his question. This is embarrassing. I hate that I have to answer it. And even more, I hate that I don’t know the answer.

Rashi follows me back inside, and I decide to be as honest as possible, leaving out the sordid details about my family, but filling him in on the fact that I’ve been stranded. He’s nice about the whole thing, really nice. As I’m speaking, he shakes his head, and I see his eyes fill with sympathy.

Ugh. I don’t want him feeling sorry for me. It only hammers the nail in a little deeper.

Once I’m done, he says, “I’ll drive you back to London.”

“That’s totally unnecessary. I’ll take the train—”

“Actually, you should take your car.”

“The Audi?” I ask, glancing at the garage. “That’s not mine. I’m pretty sure it’s a rental.”

“Nope, it belongs to Casper. And what’s his is yours now, which means the Audi in the garage is half yours.”

I blink. “You’re sure it’s his?”

“Yep, I’m positive. He won it off some poor fool in a lucky hand of poker. Watched it happen with my own eyes.”

I stare at the garage door. Casper did leave me here. And after the way he left, without so much as a word, why should I feel guilty?

“Okay,” I say, nodding. “I’ll take his car.”

* * *

I don’t know why, maybe I’m crazy, or maybe the anger building inside me is seeking an outlet, but I finally answer Viviana’s texts and meet her outside of the château. As soon as I see her waiting out front, her suitcase sitting beside her, I get out of the car and slam my door.

“You double-crossing traitor.”

She pushes her dark sunglasses up the bridge of her nose, standing as I stomp toward her. “I suppose we are long overdue for one of these arguments,” she says, her voice as calm as mine is furious. “I’m the bossy sister, and you clearly have a hidden temper. Think of all the ruined game nights.”

That’s it. I’m going to hit her. I’ve never hit someone before, but I’m pretty sure I’ve got it in me.

“Do not turn this into a joke, Vivvy. You knew what they were planning. Admit it.” I curl my hands into fists at my sides.

“Then you went through with it?”

“What, you haven’t checked the internet? At this point, I’m pretty sure they’re shouting announcements from rooftops.”

She lets out a small breath like she’s…relieved? How can she be so at peace with this?

Then she lifts her sunglasses to rest them on the top of her head. Her eyes are all red and puffy, with shadows beneath them. I take a step back.

Not as at peace as I first thought.

Great. I can’t hit her now that I know she’s been crying. “How could you do this?” I say, my voice breaking in the middle.

“I’m sorry.” She shrugs her shoulders helplessly. “They told me what they’d do to Casper if the two of you didn’t go through with it. He’s my friend, Milly. I didn’t want to see him go to prison. I figured I’d let you make the decision for both of us.”

“You couldn’t at least warn me? Prepare me for what I was walking into?”

“And give you time to back out? They would’ve known it was me, and Daddy always carries out his threats. Casper would’ve gone to jail, and you would still be in danger. This way, at least the marriage may offer you protection. If you were me, what would you have done?”

I turn around, kicking the ground with my feet. Argh. I want to hate her. I want to blame her for everything, to have someone to blame.

I keep my back turned toward her. “Aunt Carousel and Uncle Hugo—did they know?”

“No, they weren’t apart of this. As far as I know, they’re on their honeymoon, still believing everything is hunky dory.”

At least there’s that. I couldn’t handle knowing everyone was conspiring against me. This isn’t what I thought having a family would be like. At the end of the day, you should be able to trust them. Even when you’re upset with them.

I swallow, turning around. “You asked me what I would have done. If the situation were reversed, I would have warned you.”

Her shoulders droop. “I’m so, so sorry. You’re right; I should’ve said something.”

The apology sounds sincere, but I’m not sure if it makes me feel any better. All I know is I definitely can’t hit her now.

She glances at the Audi. “Where’s Casper?”

Ha—who the hell knows. “He left,” is all I say.

She pulls herself up straighter, and her eyes tighten as she realizes what I mean. “Is he coming back?”

Tears sting again as I shrug. I quickly blink them out.

“Oh, Jesus.” She takes a step toward me, but I shake my head. I don’t want comfort right now, especially coming from her. “Where did the car come from?”

“It’s his. Well, ours. Perks of matrimony.”

She looks at me, frowning. “Milly—”

“Let’s not do this, okay? I just want to get back to London, pack my things, and figure out what I’m going to do next.”

“What?” She blinks, and her puffy eyes grow round. “No! You can’t leave.”

I give her a small, bitter smile. “Why should I stay? I’m no longer a Serra. There’s nothing to worry about anymore.”

“We don’t know that for sure.”

I walk back to the car and open the door. Viviana picks up her luggage and tosses it in the back seat. She gets in on the passenger side, frowning. “You’re not driving back alone,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. “And if I have to follow you back to Florida, I will.”

I don’t argue with her.

Honestly, as much as I hate what she did, it’s not her I’m really angry with. There’s Dad, for being such a huge disappointment. Leo, for his betrayal. And Casper…

But most of all, I think I’m angry with myself, for not knowing better. For being so naïve. For letting my heart get broken.

Viviana is just an innocent bystander. Well, semi-innocent. I’m not angry with her. But I don’t feel like talking to her.

So I start up the engine and drive.