Aria's POV
Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
The loud party music and laughter from outside suddenly seemed deafening in the quiet room.
It took her forever to answer.
"I... I was just guessing, okay?"
Claudia tried to yank her hand away and stumbled back two steps. She wouldn't even look at me. That look—dodging, avoiding—made every suspicion I had feel absolutely certain.
I raised my voice, sharp and clear: "The person behind Harrison Cole was you, wasn't it?"
"Let go of me! Let go!"
"Answer me, Claudia!"
"Say it!"
She ripped her hand away and screamed in complete panic:
"Yes! It was me, so what? Aria, you always think you're so damn smart, right? How come you're only figuring it out now?"
I wasn't ready for those words. The second they left her mouth, my fists started
