Page 98 of The Confidant

I don’t acknowledge her. Whatever story she’s about to spill doesn’t come out as she stares at me. She starts to look worried. My unusual lack of action over this crap isn’t in their script.

Maman bursts their tension with a grim tone. “She’s been doing her art all over anyone with scars and making a big show of it. We didn’t want you to find out. How do you think she would market something like that? Get attention for it?”

Asher raises a brow, settling back in his seat to cross his arms. He doesn’t act surprised to hear this, but I’m confused.

Maman said she had talked to him about it before this. That he was pissed off about it and wanted his pictures ripped up. That was the reason he canceled the last dinner I held out hope for. Isn’t it? Or is this another thing Maman lied about?

“Survivors of Tragedy is the organization. They did all the promoting, and it was very subtle. Something they didn’t want shared in the open,” Tera supplies helpfully. She gets nervous when everyone looks at her. Even I look up with a frown of confusion. Her shoulders bow in as if she’s ready for someone to attack her. It makes my brows furrow deeper in suspicion.

“You didn’t want me to know she’s helping people?” Asher raises a judgmental brow, getting the attention away from Tera and back on him.

I recognize the cover even if no one else does. He’s shielding her from them so she can relax.

I’m watching Tera closely now. If she knows, she’s a member, right? I can picture it with her timid behavior. Should I warn her about this family?

No. My meddling won’t help, and I doubt she would believe me.

“You call that helping?” Maman looks at Asher like he’s crazy. “Showing people cutting themselves up for attention?”

I feel all the blood drain out of my face at the casual mention of my pain. The results of her comment don’t matter to her one bit. Who cares if I hurt myself? It’s not like I’m a person to her.

“What?” Joseph looks at me in confusion. “You took a picture of someone’s scars andshowedit? Adelaide.”

The censure in his tone heaps more pain on me. My whole body tenses up, a lot like Tera’s.

Everyone is staring at me awkwardly and trying not to. The glances in my direction and the uncomfortable shifting in their seats show they know what she said was a low blow aimed right at me. They know that was a picture of me, but they’re toodignifiedfor an outright accusation.

Not a single person speaks out in my defense. There aren’t any bids to get the attention somewhere else. They let all the focus stay on me to wallow in my emotions. I guess they're expecting me to explain to them something I can barely put into words.

Until Tera’s panicked voice breaks the silent judgment.

“Cutting isn’t for attention. It has to do with tension. Relieving pressure. Or having control. It’s when someone feels an emotion they can’t let out. Like screaming without making a single sound, so you don’t bother anybody. I’ve been reading all about it,” Tera’s wide eyes trained on me. Her expression is sweet but fierce.

This sudden defense has me staring at her in surprise. Asher’s angel is backing me up without a second thought, while everyone else judges me with hate.

I stare at this woman I don’t know. Asher hasn’t even introduced her to me yet. She meets my gaze as if she’s encouraging me to talk. There isn’t any pity in her eyes. Just a solemn acceptance of something not many people understand and a willingness to help. She put everything into a string of words that I never could. She offers me a trembling, hopeful smile. I can’t do anything but return it as tears fill my eyes.

“You’re too sweet for this world, child,” Maman says with a kind sigh.

I nod, totally agreeing with her for once. Unfortunately, Maman continues.

“But that doesn’t change the facts. She used Asher to make herself some money. Off the back of my baby’s experience and pain. That disgusting picture was for shock value. I doubt it was even real.”

My eyes widen in horror, and my mouth drops open. Tera, across from me, mirrors my expression.

I can’t believe she said that. She just outed Asher’s abuse to the whole table without a thought. My eyes dart to Asher to see how he’s faring, and I cringe.

His expression is completely shut down. He might as well be a block of ice. Meanwhile, Tera has paled, and the rest of the cake looks absolutely furious. Most of the people who married into the family look confused and ready to ask questions.

“They think I’m jealous of everyone finding their soulmates,” I blurt out to Brad, the most likely target to be a good distraction. My mouth has gone on autopilot. I can’t fix what Maman just broke, but I can distract with the best of them. “And that I’m pushing my way into people’s lives to be a part of the action.”

That does it nicely.

“Because you are,” Daniella scoffs to keep it going as Maman’s eyes narrow on me. Sophia gives me a grateful look that slaps some sense into me.

This isn’t what I came here for. I regret even showing up. More now than ever before.

I’d like to say I’m not surprised at her accusations against me, but it would be a lie. Hearing it over the phone is one thing. Having her blatantly say it in front of a group of people without any shame is another.

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