Page 141 of Worth the Risk

We don’t need the proof. It’s clear by her expression.

“Although that wasn’t the first time you played around with someone’s drink, was it?” I say. “You went so far as to put something in the drinks you made for Nash and me that night five years ago. You set us up.”

“I never did anything of the sort. These are baseless allegations.” She snarls.

“Are they?” Standing up from my seat, I walk over to the door and open it. There stands James on the other side.

He enters and takes a seat in the last open chair. I asked him to help, and he readily agreed.

Amber eyes grow wide, and her jaw hangs low. “J-James?” she stammers. “Wha… what are you doing here?”

“Taking accountability for my actions. They know about us that summer. They know you called me over that night to help you move Kylie to Nash’s bed. After you drugged them, of course.”

After a few tense moments, she stands. “You liar.” She points at James, then looks at Leo. “That never happened. She cheated on you. She wanted to get back at you for fucking Beth.”

She really is delusional.

“Beth? You mean your friend Beth, who you schemed with to tell me about Leo? We know she helped you with the setup. You planned it all so perfectly and thought you had gotten away with it.” I sneer at her.

Once again, her guilt is apparent in her facial expression and her body language. She’s pensive, realizing the gig is up.

To Leo, she sniffles and pleads, “I love you. I’ve always loved you. I was willing to wait for you. We belong together, Leo. Kylie will never make you as happy as I can.”

What the hell? How many times does she have to be told that he doesn’t love her and doesn’t want her?

“Love me?” Leo screams. “You manipulated me, crushed me, and took me from my child for four fucking years. Four fucking years! If that’s love, you can shove it up your ass. Love is not assaulting people with drugs and violating them.”

Amber steps back, and her lip quivers.

“I know you intercepted that email from Kylie where she told me she was pregnant and had your dad set up a fake company email account to tell her I wanted nothing to do with them, you delusional bitch. That was your downfall. When we figured that out, it wasn’t hard to lead to your father. He’s the one who had the money deposited into Kylie’s account. He helped you in your scheme. Hell, he probably encouraged it.”

“I had to, Leo. She was trying to pawn that child off on you. If you had received her email, you would have gone back to her. You were already caving when you said you needed to speak with her. She doesn’t deserve you, Leo.” She’s crying hysterically now.

She confessed to the email. We never had any proof, but she just ratted herself out in her emotional state.

Oliver finally finds his voice at her inability to control her words. Grabbing her by her arm, he yanks her back down to her seat. “Shut up, Amber. Don’t say anything else.”

She must realize she lost control as she seals her lips tightly.

We’ll not be getting anything else from her.

“Why, Oliver? Why would you do this to me?” Connor asks. “I don’t understand what your motives were.”

Oliver sits still, saying nothing.

Connor shakes his head. Knowing he won’t get an answer, he presses a button on the intercom. “Send them in.”

Moments later, police officers enter. Amber and Oliver are horrified as the officers promptly read them their rights and handcuff them. Connor and the police speak with each other, and within minutes, they’re gone.

“Fuck, that was intense,” Nash says, shaking his head.

That seems like the right word. “It’s not over yet, kids. Oliver will not take this well, and we don’t know what else to expect from either of them. We have answers, but we can’t predict what will happen in the future. But for now, let’s go and celebrate this victory,” Connor says.

I couldn’t agree more.

* * *

Nash, Sophie, Leo, and I are at a club, drinking and celebrating. After the confrontation, I thanked James for helping us. Nash and Leo stayed on the other side of the room away from him. Even though they know he wasn’t directly involved, they’re still holding some animosity toward him, and James understands and even accepts that.

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