Page 32 of Cup of Lies

I don’t even know what state we’re in.

Eva sits down a paper to-go cup on the end table between our beds and then offers me the bag. I take it from her and shift into a sitting position.

Everything hurts.

Especially the bottoms of my feet and my tailbone.

It all comes rushing back to me. I escaped that madman. Eva saved me. We took off, leaving Kaitlyn behind.

Bile creeps up my throat and my eyes tear up. Last night, after we settled in our room, Eva held me in my bed while I bawled my eyes out. We didn’t talk about much, other than making sure I didn’t need to see a doctor. I know today we owe each other answers.

Before jumping into conversation, I open my food and am grateful to see a variety of things to eat. I scarf down the scrambled eggs first and then get through most of the bacon before turning my gaze to Eva.

She looks different to me than I remember. Back when I lived at home, she was always so put together. Never a hair out of place. Makeup impeccable. Nails polished and manicured. Today, she’s the realest I’ve ever known. Her wrinkles are visible and she regards me with the unmasked concern of a tired yet protective mother.

“Start from the beginning,” she urges, voice gentle. “Tell me everything, baby.”

The food in my mouth feels like rubber. I want to gag on it but swallow it down without issue. When I reach for the coffee, I’m pleased it’s not pumpkin-flavored, but cinnamon and vanilla. Ever since… Well, I can’t remember, but all I know is since I’ve been pregnant, the flavor has disgusted me.

A flash of a memory assaults me.

Me in bed with a man, drinking a pumpkin-pie-flavored iced coffee.

The man isn’t the mysterious Caius.

It’s someone else. Someone who betrayed me. A friend turned foe.

The name Theo tickles my brain.

“I don’t really understand it all,” I whisper, voice trembling. “Can you tell me when you last saw me?”

Eva purses her lips that are less full than the last time I remember. I like her better with this natural look. Before, she had over-exaggerated features because of her fillers, but now they’re more human-like.

“The last six months have been hell, Romy.” She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear and her bottom lip trembles. “At Christmas, our lives blew up. I left your father.”

I gape at her in shock. “You did?”

“The kicker was when you disappeared and your father refused to look for you. It was as if he knew.” She swipes at a tear and shakes her head. “Ididn’t know. I had no idea where you’d gone or what happened to you. One minute you were engaged to marry Caius Crowne and the next you’d vanished.”

The name on her lips sends warmth trickling through my body. I had a fiancé before I landed in Seth’s hold. Has he been looking for me this whole time?

I touch my belly and hold back my tears. “You didn’t think I left with Caius?”

“Gideon told me you didn’t. He said you and Caius ended things.” Eva rubs at her temple as if the memory of the conversation with my father causes her pain just thinking about it. “I was told you were sent away for psychiatric treatment.”

My heart sinks as I digest her words. “Dad was in on this? He knew where I’d gone and what happened to me?”

Eva closes her eyes as if to calm a burst of anger and then slowly nods. “I’m not proud of how I reacted. I accused him of…a lot. I threatened him with legal action, divorce, public humiliation.” She sniffles. “I just wanted to know where youwere so I could see about getting you out. You didn’t need psychiatric care, Romy. They were abusing their power and I knew it.”

Despite the horrible things she’s telling me, I’m grateful to finally have someone on my team. I know Eva will keep me and my baby safe. She’ll do whatever it takes to make sure I’m reunited with Caius again and that we yank Kaitlyn from that wretched place.

“I have to go back for her,” I croak out. “Kaitlyn is there. All alone. She thinks Seth is her father.”

Eva nods, a grim smile on her face. “We will, but we need to be smart, Romy. These men—your father—they’re well-connected. They have means and power to end us. I’ve done a lot of researching in the past six months in my efforts to find you. I’m afraid of what we’re up against.”

My father betrayed me by sending me there. What about my brother?

“Maybe Bastian…” I trail off, deflating when she gives me a sharp shake of her head.

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