Chapter 88

Ramon POV

The room went completely still. Every eye was on me, waiting for my answer.

I wanted to lie. Wanted to protect Lake’s privacy, to keep that dark moment between us. But my mother was looking at me with those knowing eyes, and I knew she’d already figured it out. They all had, probably. Ollie’s words today had made it too obvious.

“No,” I said finally. “I don’t think it was.”

Sarah made a small, pained sound. Michelle’s hand went to her mouth. Rafael cursed under his breath.

“He was trying to—” Romeo couldn’t finish the sentence, couldn’t say the words.

“I don’t know for sure,” I said quickly. “Lake and I have never talked about it directly. But based on what happened today, based on what Ollie said about Lake taking him... yeah. I think Lake was at the end of his rope. I think he saw the ocean as a way out.”

“And Ollie?” my mother asked. “He knows?”

“I think so,” I said. “Not in a way he could articulate, maybe. But chi