Chapter 14: The Call She Deleted

Laurel heard me choking during Brynn's party and hung up.

At my aunt's table, I asked her what she had heard.

My aunt sat beside me, with the relatives who had questioned Dale gathered around us.

Laurel had called after she heard what they learned from Nate.

My aunt kept her phone on the table between us.

No one had left their chair.

'When I called you from the party, what did you hear?' I asked.

Laurel paused before answering.

'Cass, I heard you struggling to breathe.'

My fingertips pressed against the table's edge.

The wood left pale marks on my skin.

I tried to draw in a full breath, but my chest tightened.

My aunt moved her hand toward mine, then stopped.

I needed Laurel to answer me, not watch everyone take care of me.

'Brynn told me you were making a scene,' Laurel said.

She had heard me gasping before Brynn explained it away.

My fingers tightened against the table, and I struggled to take a full breath.

'What did you do after Brynn said that?' I asked.

'I put my phone away,' Laurel said. 'I went back to the guests.'

One of my cousins lowered her eyes.

Laurel had returned to the party while I was alone and struggling to breathe.

'I thought the party would settle down,' Laurel added.

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