Page 120 of Masked Hearts

“Yeah, because Pierre drove and security followed us everywhere.”

“I hate it here, Theá. Why can’t you see how fucked up this all is? I didn’t want this—you did. I want my life back.”

“I’m sorry, Noelle. I know this is rough, and it’s a big adjustment, but I need you to trust me.”

“Rough? Rough is the final exams, I’m supposed to be writing right now. This is hell!” she yells before stomping out of the kitchen.

I place both hands on the counter and sigh. The afternoon sun is streaming into the kitchen, and if it weren’t for Cape Town’s wind reminding me it’s spring, I’d believe it was summer.

“Give her some time, she’ll come around.” My head shoots up at the sound of the voice, and I spot Kaia creeping in the doorway. “Sorry for eavesdropping. I was coming in to get a glass of wine.”

“No, it’s okay. She wasn’t exactly trying to keep the conversation private,” I scoff.

“Can I pour you a glass? You can tell me about it if you’d like?” she offers, and I nod.

“I wonder if this is what mothers feel like,” I say as I take a seat on a bar stool.

Kaia chuckles as she holds up two bottles of wine, and I point to the gorgeous Chardonnay.

“I know my mom always told me raising my sister and I was like hell, so yes, I assume it is.” Kaia chuckles.

“I just don’t know what to do or say anymore. I thought after this last month that she’d eventually adapt and come to terms with all of this.”

“She’s what? Twenty-one? I don’t blame her; her world probably still revolves around whatever celebrity is at the forefront of pop culture. This is the end of her world currently, and you are the reason. She doesn’t hate you—she just hates the situation and how little control she has.”

“What do you think I should do?” I ask as she passes me the glass.

“Let her make some choices. Maybe have her plan out her ideal schedule for going out, and I’ll get the security team to structure their schedules around it.”

“You’d do that?” My eyes light up as I meet hers.

Kaia shrugs me off. “In all honesty, I told Pierre you should each have your own guard to make getting around a bit easier, but he’s insisting that you all stick together.”

“I think he’s just hoping we’ll get Stockholm syndrome and stop fighting.”

We both laugh, and she shrugs. “Maybe it’ll work.”

The laughter dies down, and I take a sip of the wine, letting the liquid linger in my mouth as my taste buds decipher all the different notes.

“Thank you. For everything. I don’t know what you’re getting out of all of this, but I just want you to know how much I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. Trust me, I’m getting more than enough out of this, so you don’t have to worry about it. C’mon, let’s go watch someBeyond the Limit.” She grabs a few different snacks and another bottle of wine before heading to the living room.

For the next two hours, I do nothing but eat snacks, get wine drunk, and die of laughter at just how drama-filled Formula 1 really is. Maybe Antonio was too quick to judge, this is so interesting.

Fuck.

I’ve been doing really well with not thinking about him until right now.

“Hey, are you okay? You aren’t even reacting to how dramatic Whylde is being right now. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m okay.” I shake my head and try to refocus on the TV, but Kaia hits pause.

“No, don’t do that. We’ve bonded over dramatic men, you can’t lie to me now. What’s going on?”

“There was…this guy back in France.”

“The one you were married to?” My head shoots up, and I stare at her with wide eyes. “You’re wearing a wedding ring, I just assumed.”

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