Page 69 of The Beast's Heart

“I trusted you.” It’s a whisper, soft but pierced with emotion. “I am such an idiot. You were just waiting until my guard was down, weren’t you?”

I don’t understand his reaction. “No, I?—”

“—Who the hell are you?”

And then I do. My head fills with a buzzing sound like thousands of tiny wings.He knows.It’s been so long that I’d forgotten to even worry.He knows the truth about me.

All the warmth that was left in my body drains away. “I wasn’t… I was trying to…” My tongue is thick and uncooperative.

“Trying towhat?”

It hardly matters. What he caught me doing was reading Lloyd’s letter. What he caught me, the impostor in his home, doing was sneaking around and discovering the last words his husband left for him.

“I— Adam—” How many times did I think about what I’d say when he discovered the truth? But now, staring up into his hard gaze, I can’t seem to form a single word. I can’t imagine whathe must be thinking, what he must be feeling right now. “I’m so sorry. I never meant—I never wanted to hurt you or to lie to you.”

My eyes sting, my heart aches. I never imagined Adam could look at me with such disgust.

“Tell me who’s paying you!”

I’m so thrown by the question, I don’t know what to say. He drops his face closer. “Must be a pretty sweet deal. A generous salary from the foundation and a nice kickback from your sponsor. The promotion? The press? Who are you working for?”

“No one!”

“And the old man? How does he fit in?”

My limbs are shaking, this feels like a nightmare. “He’s my father.”

“Oh, that much I know. You thought I’d let someone near these children without a thorough background check? I know that you’re an imposter and a fraud. I was starting to think it might not matter. But it’s all been a game to you, hasn’t it?”

“No!”

“Why are you here?” He barks again.

“Because my father’s dying! Because there wasn’t another way to stop him! I was never going to stay, but they needed me. I thought— I thoughtyouneeded me. I’m sorry!”

The adrenaline flooding my veins tells me to go, go, go. Get away. I duck under his arm and race from the room, blood roaring in my ears too loudly to hear if he comes after me.

29

ADAM

Ifall to my knees and take the broken picture frame into my shaking fingers, ignoring the sting as glass punctures flesh. I touch Lloyd’s face. My heart is still galloping.

For one cold moment everything had made perfect sense. The fact that the promotion gave up on trying to get me back, the fact that this beautiful 24-year-old was here, being so open and warm, telling me everything I wanted to hear; how the press got those photos. And everything Geoff said last night; tried to warn me about. It was all so clear. It all fit. Not fate, but a conspiracy with me, the desperate dumbass at its center. But now… now I don’t know what to think. Except that if none of that is true, and if Belle was telling the truth, then I’ve hurt him. Now he’s seen The Beast in all its glory. And he probably thinks I’m a paranoid maniac.

I collapse back, resting my head against the cold wall, my eyes prickling. I imagine Lloyd settling beside me. I always feel close to him here.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

I wish he’d speak to me, but even imaginary Lloyd’s abandoned me after seeingthatdisplay.

With trembling hands, I uncrumple the yellowed note.

Please don’t be sad, mon cher.

That’s how it starts. There was a time I knew every word by heart. But the memories are slowly disintegrating, like the paper. I should be glad of that, surely? This note represents the worst moment in my life. I should have burnt it the very day I found it. But how could I when it was all that was left?

Far away, a door slams. I slowly unfold the page, feeling a mix of dread and pain. I need to remember what comes next.

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