Chapter 23
Tessa’s POV
“I’m telling the truth,” I say, my voice shaking. “I….I didn’t make anything up. He came into my room. He touched me..”
“Enough!” Juliana snaps, her eyes cold as ice.
I flinch at her voice, but I continue anyway. “Why won’t you believe me?” My voice cracks, and I hate the sound of it. Weak and pleading. “Why would I lie about something like this?”
She doesn’t even blink. “Because you’ve always misunderstood him. You’re emotional. You overthink. You read too much into things. Thomas would never do what you’re implying.”
I stare at her. My own mother.
I can feel the heat crawling up my neck, the sting behind my eyes. “You weren’t there,” I whisper. “You didn’t see how he….”
“Lower your voice.” She cuts me off, stepping closer. “Do you want Tyler to hear you? H
