Page 49 of Entrapped
She shrugged. “I have before. It makes you feel euphoric.”
I narrowed my eyes, leaning forward slightly. “Why did you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you?”
She hesitated, and for a moment, I thought she wouldn’t answer. But then she spoke, her voice low and filled with a bitterness I hadn’t known she harbored. “You were everything my parents wanted me to be, and I could never measure up. No matter how hard I tried, I could never satisfy Colson, could never be the daughter they wanted. But you—you were perfect. They were always talking about how studious you were, how sweet you were.”
I blinked, taken aback. “That’s why you hated me? Because I was smart? Because I did well in school? Because I cared about people? You had so much more than me.”
Her jaw tightened, and she looked away, unable to meet my gaze. “It wasn’t just that. It was everything. You were always one step ahead, always better. And I resented you for it. I hated you for it. And after my mother died, I saw how wonderful your mother was. You’re so lucky to have her.”
I sat back, the weight of her words sinking in. All this time, I had never truly understood the depth of Simone’s animosity, thetwisted envy that had fueled her actions. “Simone, that’s not my fault. I never asked to be compared to you, and I would certainly never ask that your mother be taken away.”
“I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But it didn’t matter. I couldn’t help how I felt.”
For a moment, we just sat there, the silence thick between us. I didn’t know what to say, how to process this sudden, unexpected confession. Simone, the girl who had tormented me, who had tried to destroy me, was sitting here, telling me she’d been driven by jealousy all along. But I also felt sad for her. She was robbed of her mother when she needed her most and it made her bitter and evil.
“I’m not going to pretend this makes everything okay,” I finally said, my voice steady. “But if you really do love Logan, and if he feels the same… I won’t stand in your way. But you have to understand, I’m not going to let my guard down around you. Not after everything.”
She nodded, her expression unreadable. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”
With that, she stood up, smoothing down her skirt as if nothing had happened. “I just wanted you to know. Logan means a lot to me, Joey. I don’t want to fight anymore.”
As she turned to leave, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was truly the end of our rivalry, or just another phase in the twisted game Simone had been playing all along. But one thing was certain—I would be watching her closely, waiting to see if this love for Logan was real, or just another way to get back at me.
Chapter 20
Colson was late, and the house felt unusually quiet as I sat alone in the darkened kitchen, staring out at the garden. Snow flurries danced in the wind, swirling around the trees and bushes like delicate ghosts. The dim light from the kitchen barely illuminated the scene, casting eerie shadows that seemed to stretch and shrink with each gust of wind.
I didn’t know how long I’d been sitting there, lost in my thoughts, when I saw a figure moving toward the guest house. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the familiar shape—Logan. But instead of heading inside as he usually did, he made his way to the French doors that led into the kitchen. He stopped there, hesitating for a moment before knocking gently.
I rose from my chair, the wooden legs scraping softly against the tile floor. My breath fogged up the glass as I reached for the door handle. I opened the door, letting in the frigid December air that wrapped around us like a cold embrace.
Logan said nothing as he stepped inside, pulling me into a hug. His coat was rough against my cheek, and the scent of winter clung to him. I buried my face in his shoulder, the chill of theevening seeping into my bones as I clung to him, desperate for the comfort only he could offer.
“Logan,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
He tightened his hold on me, his breath warm against my hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
A frustrated sigh escaped me as I pulled back just enough to look up at him. “She was always so mean to me, and you were dating her?” My voice was thick with accusation, the betrayal I felt almost too much to bear.
He looked away, guilt flickering in his eyes. “I tried my best. She was jealous of you.”
“Jealous?” I repeated, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. “You lied to me, Logan.”
There was so much I needed to tell him—so many fears and doubts that had been building up inside me. The documents I found, the front page that had shocked me to my core, Colson’s cryptic statements that hinted at something darker, something I couldn’t quite grasp. The ones showing the demise of my grandfather’s fortune. All of it. But now, with Simone in the picture, I felt like I’d lost my last confidant, the one person I could trust.
Logan’s expression softened, and he let go of me, taking a step back. The warmth of his embrace faded, leaving me feeling more alone than ever. “We’ll talk on Christmas,” he said, his voice gentle but distant.
“Okay,” I replied softly, the word barely a whisper as he turned and walked away.
I stood there, watching him disappear into the night, the snow swallowing him up until he was just another shadow in the darkness. The cold seeped deeper into me, but it wasn’t the weather that chilled me—it was the realization that I was truly on my own.
I was still staring out the French doors, lost in my thoughts, when I heard the familiar sound of footsteps behind me. Colson's sudden presence made me jump, and I turned just in time to see him enter the kitchen.
“Joey, what are you doing standing here in the dark?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
“Just thinking and watching the snow come down. I’m glad you’re home,” I replied without turning to face him. The snowflakes were mesmerizing, each one unique and fleeting, like the thoughts swirling in my mind.
“I would assume your brother is visiting Simone. His car is here,” Colson said, his tone matter-of-fact.
