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“That’s just it!” My eyes flash to hers “I have been married before It’s the whole reason I had to end it”

Her grey eyebrows pull together “You broke it off because of Sloan?”

“Because of what happened with Sloan All the lies, the secrets The double life I ht I knew, and then it turned out I didn’t know him at all” I pause for breath then quietly add “I won’t ain”

Bea studies the table in front ofmy hand “Then why do you still wear this?” The dark blue sapphire ring is on the third finger of my left hand

My lips treh “I don’t know”

It’s a lie I haven’t been able to take it off because no ht, it’s the last piece of evidence holding ether I’m afraid if it’s removed, all my insides will bleed out

We don’t speak, but I can feel her studyingin front of her, and I wish she’d say so

“Sloan Reynolds was a sneaky young htful “Very slick and always s I don’t knohere he got it His father was a good man His mother was a bit materialistic, but she wasn’t cruel or vindictive Still, for whatever reason, their son was attracted to the darkness ht”

Slowly, my eyes ht hiister when he was about fifteen” She nods, hands across her midsection “Why the son of the town’s richest family would need to steal, I don’t know He saw rin Slipped thatme to call him on it”

“Did you?” I whisper

“Of course I did! I called Jackson right away and told hiister”

“What happened?”

Exhaling, she shakes her head “His father thought it was funny, a boyish prank He apologized for Sloan and said he’d send the h, his driver caift”

“What are you saying?” I wait for her next words as if they’re the key to some incredible mystery

“The average ht in his head” She smiles at me now “Half of thehts in their heads beyond food and sex”