Page 27 of My Rockstar Ex's Broken Vows

I shake my head, brushing the idea aside. That’s ridiculous. Who would do that? And why?

The phone buzzes in my hand, and Emma’s name flashes across the screen. Her timing is almost eerie.

"Hey," I say, trying to keep my voice even.

"Hey yourself," she says, her tone warm but curious. "How did it go?"

I texted Emma from the bar when Callum excused himself to the restroom. I figured someone should know where I was, in the event that Callum had actually become a serial killer, and winning my trust back was all part of his diabolical plan.

I let out a long breath, leaning back against the couch. "Better than I expected. But… confusing."

"How so?"

"He said he tried to reach me. Back then. After he left. And I tried, too. But… nothing got through. For either of us. He never knew I tried to reach him."

There’s a pause, and when she speaks again, her voice is slower, more thoughtful. "Thatisweird."

"Right? He said he got a new number, so I get why my calls didn’t reach him, I guess. But his? Emails? Letters? It doesn’t make sense."

Emma hums, a sound that sends unease skittering down my spine. "Do you think… I don’t know, I mean, would someone have somehow sabotaged you two connecting?"

The words hang in the air, heavy and dangerous. I laugh, but it sounds forced and hollow. It’s not a funny-haha kind of laugh. "That’s ridiculous. Who would even care enough to do that?"

Emma doesn’t answer right away. "I don’t know. But something doesn't add up."

I don’t want to think about it. The idea is too big and too messy. "Yeah," I murmur, even though my mind is already racing.

After we hang up, I sit there in the quiet, staring at the ceiling as my thoughts spiral. Callum said he didn’t stop trying right away, but he did stop. I don’t know how long he tried, but I know I never stopped looking for closure. Now, years later, I’m back to the same question:

What really happened?

Sienna’s Brownstone

10:17 PM

The phone ringsand Marcus’s name flashes across the screen. My stomach tightens. I already know this isn’t going to be good.

I consider letting it go to voicemail, but Ollie’s with him, and the "what ifs" are too much to ignore. With a sigh, I swipe to answer.

"Hey," I say, keeping my voice neutral. "Everything okay?"

"Fine," Marcus says, his tone clipped. "Ollie’s fine."

Relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived. I know Marcus well enough to recognize that tone. He’s gearing up for something.

"Good," I say cautiously. "So, what’s up?" I ask as cheery as I can muster. Just grin and get through it. It's a theme I know well as it was my mantra every day of our marriage.

"I saw something about Callum Reid," he says, practically spitting out his name like it tastes bad in his mouth. "Didn’t realize he was back in your orbit."

I blink, caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"

"At the school showcase a few weeks ago," he says. "While Ollie was on stage, I saw something about him on my phone. And now I’m hearing through the grapevine that you two were spotted out together."

My grip tightens on the phone. "The grapevine?" I echo, my voice laced with disbelief. "Are we back in high school?"

"Don’t deflect," he snaps. "You know what I mean. And I’m telling you now, Sienna—I don’t want him around my son."

The possessiveness in his tone makes my blood boil. "Ourson," I correct sharply. "And you don’t get to dictate who I see."

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