Page 166 of Dirty Husband
"Shep—"
"Don't." I let the tree crack. Let it split in half. Let its top fall to the ground. "I don't need your opinion. Or your apology. Or your bullshit pep talk. We both know he'll find a way to release them."
"There's metadata. You know—"
"On film."
"No one will—"
"They will."
"People will understand," he says.
"Yes, they'll understand. They'll look at me the way Lizzy did. Thank you for that, by the way—"
"She's my fiancée."
"It's my past."
He says nothing.
"They'll understand I'm a victim."
"Shep—"
"Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me people will see past it. Tell me it won't be a black mark by my name until the end of time."
He doesn't.
"Even if I did out him. If I took him down with me. I'd always be, Shepard Marlowe, the man who was abused by his stepfather." I stare at my brother. "Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me people won't whisper about how he touched me. How he forced me to touch him. Tell me it won't hover over me for the rest of my life."
"It already does."
Fuck him.
"I am sorry, Shepard. Really. You're right. People will talk. People will look at you like you carry a darkness that will infect them if they get too close. But the people who matter, who love you… they'll be able to finally see you."
"As a rape victim."
"That's not what I mean."
Yes, it is. He can explain it any way he wants it. We both know what he means.
I should let people in. Share my ugly past. Let them know why I'm a damaged freak.
"I'm glad it worked out for you." I don't wait for a response. I turn and move toward the restaurant.
But there's something awful around the corner.
Lucien is there. And he's talking to Jasmine.
Chapter Forty-Three
Jasmine
"Ididn't realize you and Shep stayed in touch." I try my best smile, but it's not there. I'm happy drunk. My inhibitions are MIA. I want to tell Shep's stepfather to fuck off. I don't know what his deal is. But he clearly makes Shep uncomfortable.
And he's just…
