Chapter 4

Across the table, Aurora set down her fork and knife, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and said casually, "By the way, my brother Morton is a picky eater, but he's allergic to mangoes.

"He breaks out in a rash every time he eats them. Tasha, you two are pretty close, so you must know that, right?"

My heart skipped a beat.

I was stunned for a second.

I had no idea about that. My brain was working overtime, trying to figure out how to answer.

If I said I knew, one wrong word and I'd be exposed.

If I said I didn't know, then the whole "close relationship" thing would fall apart.

It was a total trap. No matter what I said, I'd lose.

I set down my spoon and looked up at Aurora, my eyes misting over with tears.

I whispered, dropping my gaze, my voice trembling a little, "I didn't know. He never told me. Has he been hiding a lot from me?"

I didn't answer her question head-on. Instead, I tossed it right back, making myself look like the poor victim who'd been left in the dark.

Zelda's heart immediately went out to me.

She scolded, "Honestly, Aurora. Tasha finally comes over, and you have to bring this up? Morton never talks about his allergies to everyone. It's perfectly normal that Tasha wouldn't know!"

She turned to me, her voice gentle. "Sweetheart, don't overthink it. Morton's just that way. He only shares good news, never the bad. He just doesn't want you to worry."

I let a couple of tears slip out, nodded, and put on my best performance.

Aurora gave me a subtle, icy smile, almost too quick to catch. She definitely hadn't expected me to think on my feet and turn her mom into my shield.

She didn't push any further, but that exchange left me utterly exhausted.

After dinner, Zelda said she was tired and headed upstairs to rest, leaving just Aurora and me in the living room.

The air felt thick and heavy, like it was holding its breath.

"Tasha," Aurora finally broke the silence.

"Aurora," I replied, sitting up straight.

She said, her voice icy, "I don't know who you are, and I don't know what you're after with my mom. But Morton hates two kinds of people most in this world, liars, and people who use others' feelings for their own gain."

Every word she said felt like a needle, stabbing right into my heart.

She said while pulling a check out of her purse and sliding it across the table to me, "I don't care what story you spun to get my mom wrapped around your finger. But the Parker family isn't the place for someone like you.

"Here's 30 thousand dollars. Take the money and leave first thing tomorrow morning. I'll handle explaining it to my mom."

I stared at the check. 30 grand was a huge deal for me.

If I were just a scammer, this would be the perfect chance to bail.

But I'd already pocketed 2 million from Zelda. That money felt like a scar burned into my conscience.

Aurora's attitude ticked me off. The way she looked down on me, trying to buy me off, made me want to push back, just out of spite.

I looked up and met her gaze head-on.

"Aurora, I think you've got it all wrong," I said, enunciating every word as I pushed the check back across the table.

I said, "What Morton and I have isn't something you can put a price on. I didn't come here for the money.

"I'm staying because your mom wants me to. If my being here bothers you, you should talk to her, not try to buy me off."

I couldn't believe I actually had the nerve to talk back to her.

Aurora was clearly caught off guard by my refusal. She paused, then gave a chilly laugh. "Alright, suit yourself.

"Tasha, isn't it? I'll remember you. Just make sure you don't regret what you did today."

With that, she snatched up the check, stood, and headed upstairs without so much as a glance back.

I flopped onto the couch, totally spent, like all my strength had just vanished.

This battle was only getting started.