A knot formed in Lauren’s stomach, and she braced herself for the worst. She couldn’t bear the thought of being let down by yet another person she trusted.
‘About who I am and why I got a job at your hotel.’
Lauren frowned. This was the last thing she’d expected to hear.
‘I don’t understand . . .’ she said slowly.
Rain turned to face her. ‘Lauren, Fay’s my sister. I got a job at the hotel because I was trying to find out why she went missing.’
Lauren felt like she’d been punched in the gut. She climbed out of bed and put her robe on, gripping the edge of the fireplace for support as she tried to process this revelation.
‘Lauren, I’m—’ Rain began, but Lauren held up a hand to silence her.
She didn’t want to hear Rain’s apologies or excuses. The mere mention of Fay’s name made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, not out of fear, but out of sheer anger.
Memories came flooding back, memories she’d tried so hard to suppress. Fay, with her sly smile and her cunning eyes, always lurking in the shadows, always up to no good. Fay, who’d caused nothing but trouble at the hotel from day one.
And now, to find out that Rain, the one person she’d let herself trust, the one person she’d let herself fall for, was connected to Fay all along? It was too much to take in.
Lauren squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the tears. She felt like a fool, like she’d been played for the biggest sucker in the world.
‘Lauren, please, let me explain,’ Rain pleaded, her voice cracking with emotion. ‘I never meant to hurt you. I swear, everything I feel for you is real.’
Lauren shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. She didn’t know what to believe anymore.
Rain got out of bed, wrapped in a sheet. She took a tentative step forward, reaching out to touch Lauren’s arm. Lauren flinched, as if burned by the contact.
‘Don’t,’ she whispered, her voice raw with pain. ‘Just . . . don’t.’
Rain withdrew her hand, looking stricken. ‘I’m so sorry, Lauren. I never wanted it to happen this way.’
Lauren let out a bitter laugh. ‘Well, it did. Was any of it real? Or was it all just a lie, a way to get close to me so you could . . . what? Gather information about Fay?’
Rain shook her head vehemently. ‘No! Lauren, I swear, my feelings for you are genuine. Fay has nothing to do with that.’
Lauren scoffed. ‘How can I believe a word you say?’
Rain’s gaze dropped to the floor. ‘I don’t know. But I’m asking you to try. To give me a chance to explain everything.’
Lauren was quiet for a moment, torn between her desire to trust Rain and her fear of being betrayed again. The latter won.
‘I think it’s best if you leave,’ she said, her voice cold and distant.
Rain’s eyes widened. ‘What? Come on, Lauren, don’t be like this.’
‘I mean it, Rain. I want you to leave.’
Rain started to protest, but Lauren cut her off. ‘If it’s true what you say about caring for me, you’d do as I ask.’
Rain’s shoulders slumped in defeat. ‘Okay, okay, I’ll go, but—’
‘I’ve got nothing else to say to you,’ Lauren snapped.
She locked herself in the bathroom, staying there until she heard the front door shut, signalling Rain’s departure.
Lauren slumped against the door, feeling like her world had just imploded. A week ago, everything was fine, and now? It was all in shambles. She’d been letting life push her around, but that stops now. No more being anyone’s fool.
Determined, Lauren marched into the living room, grabbed her car keys, and left everything else behind. She had more important things to deal with.
She made the two-hour drive to London in record time, not even stopping for a snack. All she wanted was to get home and sort out this mess.
First stop: Sydney’s place. Lauren dropped her case off and went straight to her sister’s door.
‘What are you doing here?’ Sydney asked, giving Lauren a quick hug.
‘I’ve got some stuff to sort out,’ Lauren said, stepping inside.
‘Is this about Rain?’
Lauren scoffed. ‘You mean Fay’s sister?’
Sydney nodded. ‘So, she told you?’
‘Yeah, she did.’
‘Good,’ Sydney said, surprising Lauren as she followed her into the living room.
‘Can you believe it?’
