Page 99 of I'm sorry, Princess
“Where have you been?” she asks, her sharp green eyes scanning me like she can read the thoughts swirling inside my head.
I try to answer, but my throat is tight, my emotions clawing their way up. If I say anything, I know I’ll break down right here, in front of everyone.
She notices the tears in my eyes instantly. Of course she does.
I glance around. My family is nowhere to be seen. Figures. They left me here. No doubt to make another appearance at some important event where they can continue their perfect political charade.
I swallow hard, forcing out the only word I can manage.
“Around.” My voice cracks, betraying me.
Sienna frowns. “Serena, what happened?”
I shake my head, gripping my clutch so tightly my knuckles turn white. Not now. Please, not now.
Then I see it. The glassy look in her eyes. The way her lips press together like she’s been holding something in all night. And that’s when I realize, I’m not the only one who’s had a shitty evening.
“What happened to you?” I ask, needing desperately to focus on something other than my own life spiraling out of control.
She exhales shakily. Her voice is quieter than usual.
“Knox.”
I feel my stomach drop.
I nod, letting her continue.
“You know our relationship, our open relationship,” she says bitterly, wiping at the corner of her eye before the tears can fall.
I do. She’s told me before, how they agreed to give each other space, how she never fully understood what that meant.
“I got a text from an unknown number,” she continues, her voice barely above a whisper. “With a video.”
I don’t ask. I already know.
Her hands clench into fists. “When I clicked on it, it was Knox. With two girls. Not one, two.”
My heart breaks for her.
She sniffs, tilting her head up like she’s trying to hold it together, but I can see how close she is to crumbling.
“I tried to call him. No answer. I texted him, asked where he was, and he ignored me. So I told him I was done.That I was breaking up with him.” Her lips tremble, but she steels herself. “And do you know what he said?”
I shake my head.
She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “He asked why.”
“What?” I whisper.
“He told me it wasn’t cheating because we agreed to an open relationship.” She clenches her jaw. “Because we agreed.”
Silence settles between us, heavy and suffocating.
I reach for her hand, squeezing it tight. She doesn’t say anything, just holds on like she needs something to ground her.
She swallows thickly, her gaze distant. Like she wants to say more but doesn’t know how.
I don’t push.
