Page 69 of Sweet Ruin

“I’m really sorry about Georgina.”

“Thank you.” Matthew gave me a sad smile. “I miss her every day, but knowing the truth has helped a little. I have Noah to thank for that. Now we can honor both her and Liam through our work. Maybe that will bring her some peace.”

“I’m sure it will.” I smiled back at him. “What about you though? What does taking over Hastings Laboratories mean for you? I thought you wanted to take a step back from all this.”

“I still do,” Matthew said. “It won’t happen immediately, but acquiring Hastings shouldn’t change those plans. It will become a subsidiary of The LaFleur Corporation that Noah will eventually run.”

“Really? I thought he wasn’t interested in running his family’s company.”

“That’s something you’d have to ask Noah,” Matthew replied.

That was just one of the many things I needed to ask Noah. The thought of facing those questions was still a little overwhelming, and I fell silent. Matthew was quiet too. Maybe we didn’t have the energy for any more. I was still trying to make sense of everything I’d learned tonight, but I didn’t have to have all the answers now.

Matthew must have agreed because he rose from the edge of the bed. “You should get some rest. It’s been quite a night.”

I didn’t protest. I was exhausted after the evening’s events. As my father left the room, softly closing the door behind him, I settled myself into the giant bed and stared up at the ceiling.

I expected to be plagued by thoughts about everything that had happened tonight as I peered upward at the ceiling, but instead I found myself thinking about the least likely of people. I was thinking about Norma and the prediction she’d made for me when I was last at home. She’d told me to trust my heart, and I wondered if perhaps her prediction hadn’t been about Wes. I’d always found it difficult to believe Noah had changed so completely after we broke up, and I wondered if perhaps she’d been talking about him all along.

CHAPTERTWENTY

Iwoke the next morning to the sound of my phone buzzing with an incoming call, and I groaned as I patted my hand around my bed and tried to find the device. I’d been up half the night, tossing and turning as I chewed over the night’s events. I’d only properly drifted off to sleep a little before sunrise, so it felt like I’d only just shut my eyes. My eyelids were heavy, my mouth felt parched, and my hair was probably a mess since I hadn’t bothered to dry it before I went to bed.

When my fingers finally wrapped around my phone, I took one glance at the caller ID before I answered. “Cress?” My voice was croaky and deep with sleep.

“Finally,” Cress replied. “I’ve been texting you all night. You guys disappeared after Noah’s announcement, and I haven’t been able to get hold of you since. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” I carefully and slowly pushed myself up in bed. “I’m tired and a little confused but okay.”

“It was pretty shocking,” Cress said. “Did you know what Noah and your dad were up to?”

“I had no idea.” I rubbed a hand across my face. I was still waking up, so I wasn’t quite ready to relive the evening again. “Do you think we can talk about it on the trip back to school though? I’m half asleep, and I’m going to need about three cups of coffee before I can even consider revisiting it all.”

“About that…” Cress started. “The other reason I called so early is because I can’t drive you back. I mean I can if you can’t find another way. But my parents are sticking around longer than expected, and they want me to stay for an extra couple of days.”

“Oh, well, you haven’t seen them in months,” I replied. “You should stay, obviously.”

“But what about you?”

“I’ll talk to Matthew. I’m sure he can help me organize a way to get back to Weybridge.”

“Are you sure?”

“Definitely. You should spend time with your parents. I know you’ve missed them.”

“Thanks, Isobel. I’m so sorry for bailing on you last minute. If you get stuck, call me and I’ll drive you.”

“Like I said, I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”

“Okay, well, remember I’m always here if you want to talk once you’ve had your coffee.”

“Thanks, Cress.”

I pursed my lips as I ended the call. I hadn’t thought twice about telling Cress to stay. She deserved to spend time with her parents. But I hoped I was right about Matthew being able to help. I was not in for a fun day if I had to catch a bus back to school.

I considered trying to go back to sleep, but my stomach rumbled with hunger, so I got up and made my way downstairs instead. I entered the dining room with my eyes focused on my phone as I read a text from Cress. She’d simply sent a stream of heart emojis, so I sent some back in reply.

“Good morning.”

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