Love & Deceit

CHAPTER 7

Time freezes as Declan's words hang in the air. Henry's hand is still wrapped around mine, warm and steady, while Declan's face twists with something between rage and triumph.

"You know her?" Henry asks, looking between us.

"Oh, I know her alright." Declan's laugh is cruel. "She's the barmaid who slapped me. Not Hattie Everett."

Henry's hand goes slack in mine. The loss of his touch shouldn't hurt, but it does.

"What is he talking about?" Henry turns to me, and the confusion in his eyes makes my chest ache. "Hattie?"

"Her name is Jayde," Declan spits out. "She's nothing but a gold-digging - "

"Enough!" Henry's voice cuts through the restaurant like a whip. Several diners turn to stare.

I want to run. Everything in me screams to flee, but my feet won't move. The truth is finally here, and it's ugly.

"Outside," Henry says quietly. "All of us. Now."

The walk to the parking lot feels like a death march. The night air is cool against my burning cheeks, but it does nothing to calm my racing heart.

"Explain," Henry demands once we're alone. He's not looking at either of us, just staring out at the dark lake.

"She works - worked - at Magic Street Bar," Declan starts. "Until I had her fired for assaulting me."

"You tried to make me kiss your feet!" The words burst out before I can stop them. "After you sanitized your hands like I was diseased!"

Henry's head snaps toward Declan. Something dangerous flashes in his eyes.

"You did what?"

"She's lying," Declan scoffs, but there's a flicker of uncertainty in his face.

"Like you lied about what happened to the last waitress you harassed?" Henry's voice is deadly quiet. "The one I had to pay off to keep quiet?"

My eyes widen. So the rumors about Henry being different were true.

"This isn't about me," Declan deflects. "Your fiancée is an impostor. A cheap replacement probably paid to - "

"I didn't have a choice!" The words tear from my throat. "They have my mother's debt. They're making me do this!"

Silence falls. Heavy, suffocating silence.

"Who's they?" Henry asks finally.

I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold. "Beatrice Everett. James. They said... they said Hattie ran away. That they needed me to replace her until..."

"Until the wedding," Henry finishes. His face is unreadable.

"I tried to say no." The tears I've been holding back all day finally spill over. "But they threatened to make us pay everything back. We don't have that kind of money. My mom... she's all I have left."

Henry runs a hand through his hair, messing it up in a way that makes him look younger and more vulnerable.

"Do you know why Hattie ran?" he asks suddenly.

I shake my head.

"Because this was supposed to be a marriage of convenience. No feelings involved." His laugh is hollow. "We grew up together. Been friends since we were kids. It was the perfect solution to both our family's demands."

"Then why did she leave?"

"Because she fell in love." He turns to face me fully. "With someone else. She begged me to call it off, but our families... there's too much at stake."

My mind spins. All this time, I thought Hattie was just another spoiled rich girl. But she ran for love.

"So what now?" Declan's smirk is back. "Going to have her arrested for fraud?"

"Shut up, Declan." Henry's voice is tired. He looks at me, really looks at me, and I can't read what's in his eyes. "How much is the debt?"

"Two hundred thousand," I whisper. "Plus... they promised a million when it was over."

He pulls out his phone, fingers flying over the screen. "Done. The debt's paid. You're free to go."

My heart stops. "What?"

"I just transferred the money to Paul's account. You don't have to pretend anymore."

Relief floods through me, followed immediately by a strange emptiness. It's over. I should be happy.

So why does it feel like I'm losing something?

"Thank you," I manage. "I'm sorry for... for everything."

I turn to leave, but his voice stops me.

"You know what's funny?" There's something strange in his tone. "In the ten minutes before Declan showed up, you were more real with me than Hattie's been in years."

"Henry - " Declan starts, but Henry cuts him off.

"Get out of here, Declan. And if I ever hear about you harassing another woman..."

The threat hangs in the air. Declan's face darkens, but he leaves without another word.

It's just Henry and me now, standing in the dark parking lot with too many words unsaid.

"I am sorry," I say again. "I never meant to..."

"To what? Make me question everything I thought I knew?" He takes a step closer. "Make me wonder what it would be like to marry someone who looks at me like I'm just a person, not a business deal?"

My breath catches. "Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't say things like that. You're Henry Ayles. I'm nobody."

"You're the girl who slapped Declan to protect her dignity." His smile is sad. "Sounds like somebody to me."

A taxi pulls into the lot - the one I called when I thought I'd need a quick escape. Now I'm not sure if I want to escape at all.

"Your ride's here," Henry says softly.

I nod, unable to speak. This is it. Back to my real life.

"Jayde?"

I turn back one last time.

"Thank you," he says, "for showing me what real courage looks like."

The taxi ride home is a blur. Mom's asleep when I get in, and the apartment is quiet. Everything looks the same, but nothing feels the same.

Because for a few minutes tonight, I wasn't pretending to be Hattie Everett.

It was just me. And somehow, that was enough.

I curl up in bed, my phone lighting up with a text from an unknown number:

"Some people run from love. Some people run towards it. Which one are you? - H"

And for the first time in my life, I don't know the answer.