I froze.
“I… I just heard it,” I stumbled. “Maybe Mom told me. Or someone else. I don’t know...”
He didn’t respond. Didn’t agree. Didn’t argue. Just watched me like he was working out a puzzle. I hated that look—it meant he knew something was off. I could have kicked myself.
I rushed to change the subject. “Dad, I’m sure you have friends. After all, everyone knows I’m supposed to marry Asher. That has to count for something. There must be some kind of connection, some leverage. I just want to know he’s okay.”
He looked at me, and I saw a mixture of things flash across his face—guilt, worry, uncertainty. He opened his mouth to say something, but then—
My mother’s voice cut through the air.
“Please don’t tell me you’re entertaining this.”
We both turned toward her.
“Have you been eav
