Page 78 of Solstice

“The affair, Ivette. The scandal with your boarding school roommate. Were the papers correct?”

I balked at her question. Of all the scandalsThe Puckhad ever reported about me, why had she taken this one so seriously? We were three weeks out from the wedding. Lex and I had never been more emotionally attached to each other. I’d put on her stupid dress and attended every social function, and now? Now she believes the papers?

But this time was different, wasn’t it? Because this time, itwastrue, and everyone knew it.

“I told you they were photoshopped.” I squared my jaw and held my chin higher. Lex tightened his fist around mine, giving me his strength. “Why don’t you believe me?”

“It doesn’t matter whether they were or not,” Giana cut in, holding her hands up between us. “The only thing that matters is what thepublicbelieves. We don’t have much time to respond.”

“Respond?” I raised my eyebrows. “No, there’ll be no response.”

“Reporters are going to ask questions,” Giana said.

Mother scoffed and shook her head, and my eyes caught on the way the light reflected off the silver in her dark hair. The presidency had aged her, as it had started to age Kellan. It reminded me that the crown lay heavy on the head that wore it, and I didn’t know if I wanted that responsibility. Did I want to be a cold, bitter woman at her age?

“Let them.” I took a deep breath. “There’s nothing to report.”

Giana tilted her head to the side, considering. “The best way to deal with a scandal is to pretend there isn’t one.”

“Exactly,” Lex said.

“Were you aware of this?” Kellan shoved his hands in his pockets, finally taking a step closer to us. “Did you know it was going on?”

Lex rolled his eyes. “So what if I did? At least Ivy would have had the guts to admit it instead of hiding it for decades. Right,Dad?”

I saw the second Kellan’s hatred for Lex reached a boiling point. If they were alone, he might have hit him. Lex’s memories came back to me, the one where Kellan had admitted to resenting Lex for surviving and lamented that Marcus had been taken instead. I hated him almost as much as I hated my own mother.

“Watch your mouth, Alexei.” Kellan’s tone voiced a threat he likely wouldn’t act upon.

Lex snickered to himself, knowing he’d hit a chord.

“All due respect, Mister President, Madam President, I’d like to speak with the congresswoman alone.” Giana crossed her hands in front of her, staring my mother down as Evelyn’s jaw clenched and Kellan’s face turned beet red.

“Excuse me?” He put his hands on his hips.

“I work for Ivy. Not either of you. If I’m going to spin a story, I need to know the facts. Right now, you’re both a distraction.” Giana cleared her throat. “Again, respectfully.”

No one had talked to my mother like that in a long time. Not my father. Not my mother’s employees. Not even Kellan. Evelyn stared at Giana for a moment before glancing at Kellan, who let out a short laugh.

“What do you suggest we do?” Evelyn blinked. “Wait in the sitting room like guests?”

“Or the parlor,” Giana suggested, “if you need a drink to settle your nerves.”

I physically swallowed down my shock when my mother shook her head and pointed at Giana, narrowing her gaze as she headed toward the hallway. “I knew I liked you.”

Kellan didn’t say anything as he followed.

“Holy fucking shit.” Lex laughed and ran his hands back through his hair, his eyes wild.

“Listen to me,” Giana said. “We’ll say it’s a fake. We’ll deny it. But Ivy, there can’t be any other surprises.” She looked between the two of us. “Are there more skeletons I should know about?”

I pursed my lips and glanced at Lex. Giana had signed an ironclad NDA. If she besmirched my name or my brand in any way, exposed any of my secrets, I’d own everything she had. But this secret didn’t just affect me. Carter would need to consent to it, and I hadn’t been able to reach him for hours.

“Giana.” Lex shook his head and sighed. “If we told you all the skeletons in our closet, you’d have to marry a Washington so Evelyn could be sure you’d keep your mouth shut.”

I pursed my lips and ignored Giana’s confused expression. “Someone broke into our house for these shots. They knew they existed. They knew where to look. I have no idea what else they knew how to find.”

Giana nodded. “We’ll try to prepare for everything.”

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