Chapter 24
The beauty almost makes me forget what I just witnessed, nearly distracting me from all the
Almost.
“You saw nothing tonight,” Nathan finally speaks, his voice low and sharp.
thoughts running through my head.
1 turn to him, tilting my head to meet his burning gaze. He takes a step towards me, and I have to dig my toes into my shoes to keep from instinctively backing away.
“You saw nothing tonight, April. Understand?”
I swallow, unable to find the words. I nod once, biting my lip to stop them from trembling.
Nathan’s eyes follow the action, and they darken slightly; that image of us I had before flashes through my mind again.
That wasn’t Lucas or Sarah’s first time, I’m sure of it. That was a regular occurrence and Nathan… Nathan knows about it.
Does he do it, too? I wonder. Which one of the maids does he use? Do they use all the maids? Peter too? Is this some sick rich people sport?
“I know you have questions,” Nathan says again, his gaze leaving my lips and returning to my eyes. “You will not voice them. Not to me, or to anyone else.”
He takes another step, and he’s so close that if I breathe in too deeply, our chests will brush. “If you breathe a word of what you saw tonight to anyone, April“—he shakes his head-“the consequences will be too grave for you to bear.”
There it is.
The Ashfords aren’t generous and altruistic and benevolent and kind. At least not entirely. They’re also depraved, a little sick. And like all other rich people, they would do whatever it takes to ensure their secrets stay buried and their sparkling reputation stays intact.
“I need to hear you say you understand, April.” Nathan might have forgotten me from school, but after tonight, he’ll definitely remember me.
I swallow again, pushing my trepidation down, down, down.
“I understand.” My voice is barely above a whisper, but it seems enough for Nathan as his shoulders relax slightly.
Then I reach a hand out to him and unfurl my fist. Sarah’s bracelet glints in my palm, and I no longer question how she could afford such an expensive piece of jewelry.
“This is Sarah’s. It’s why I went looking for her,” I explain.
Nathan takes the bracelet out of my hand, the brief point of contact sending a tiny shiver through me.
“I didn’t mean to spy,” I add, feeling my cheeks color with shame. “I’m sorry.”
His eyes soften a fraction, but he doesn’t say anything else before he opens the door and exits, leaving me alone on the balcony.
The second the door clicks shut, my knees give out, and I fall into a crouch, wrapping my arms around me as I shudder.
I stay on the balcony for a while, breathing in and out, in and out, in and out, until I feel a little calmer, and I know I can return to the banquet without giving anything away.
So I head back, walking briskly, not stopping at the door to hear anything.
By the time I return to the dining hall, dinner is over, and the Ashfords are gone. Only a few girls linger, talking amongst themselves.
“April!” Eliza gasps, running towards me.
She grabs my arm urgently. “Where were you?”
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she interrupts. “Jessica and Lay have been looking for pros
1 frown, her organic making paren
“une“Eliza parts, and the patar sees me in a tight grip, all the thoughts of tonight’s occurrences flying out of my head. “Something’s tappened to be
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