Chapter 17

Valerie Will

A wave of nausea washed over me and I hung up the call immediately. There was a crushing weight in my chest that felt like a physical punch.

I gasped for air as her words replayed in my head. ‘He slept with your sister.’

I clutched at my chest, as if I could somehow hold off the pain. My phone dropped to the ground and shattered. I stumbled backward, letting out shallow breaths.

Patrick slept with Jessica?

No, it wasn’t possible.

Patrick wouldn’t do that to me. He loved me.

He knew how I felt about Jessica. He knew how Jessica could be sometimes. He wouldn’t hurt me like that. No, it had to be a misunderstanding.

Celeste had no idea what she was talking about.

She didn’t read the texts correctly.

At least, that was what I tried to say to make myself feel better. But I didn’t even believe the words that were coming out of my mouth.

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to steady myself.

Then I sat down on