I folded my arms across my chest, pinning Chloe with a sharp enough glare. "Why don't you ask your virile fiancé?" I taunted.each word dripping with venom.

The jab landed like a slap. Her eyes flickered wide before narrowing to slits, her lips flattening into a thin, furious line. She detected the mockery.

"You're insane," she spat. "I'm not going to stand here and listen to a bitter ex spew lies."

I let out a low, humorless laugh. "Oh, Chloe. Denial looks so really ugly on you. But you and I both know the truth."

"Yeah. We both know you're desperate. And delusional," she shot back,voice rising. "Dean never got a vasectomy. Maybe that's just another lie he told you to keep you from clinging to him. I wouldn't put it past him. You're always a pest."

She turned on her heel, already dismissing me like she always tried to.But the words tumbled out of me before she could escape.

"It's Zane's, isn't it?"

She froze mid-step, shoulders stiffening. The silence stretched before I continued, my tone soft but intending to slice like a knife.

"I kept wondering why Zane was at the mall that night. It didn't make much sense... until last night. You've been sleeping with him behind Dean's back, haven't you? And let me guess..." I inhaled sharply. "That night was when you told him you were pregnant."

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. She glanced around anxiously.

like a guilty child caught with her hand in the cookle jar. Pathetic.

"But here's the part that puzzles me." I went on, tapping my chín in mock thought. "You've been drinking wine all week, Chlo. Either you're dumber than I thought-or you're lying through your teeth."

Her composure faltered, just for a second. She stumbled back,face paling as though I'd shoved her.

"What are you talking about?" Her voice cracked, brittle. "Can't I drink wine if I'm pregnant? Is there a law that prohibits me from doing that?"

My jaw slackened. Was she really this dense? Or playing dumb to save herself?

"You can't be serious." My tone dropped low. "Are you this stupid, or are you just trying to rile me up?"

Her face gave her away. That tny flicker of panic in her eyes was all the confirmation I needed. I let out a humorless, hollow laugh.

"You really didn't know, did you? God, Chloe, you're so fucking dumb it's almost funny. Guessyou don't need brain cells to teach yoga."

Her hands balled into fists at her sides, trembling. "Where the hell is Dean?!" Her voice roseinto a shrill scream. "You've gone to him with these outrageous accusations, haven't you? Where is he? What did you tell him?!"

I tilted my head, almost amused by her unraveling. "Dean doesn't need me to say a word. He knows. That's why he's not answering your calls. That's why he's gone. If I were you, I'd start shopping for a substitute groom, because Dean's not coming back for your cheating ass."

I turned, letting the words hang in the air like a death sentence. But

before I could walk away, her hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. Her nails dug deep into my skin, sharp as claws.

"You come back here!" she shrieked, yanking hard. The pain made me hiss.

"Let go, Chloe!" I snarled, twisting against her grip.

"Give me back my fiancé!" she screeched, her nails gouging crescents into my flesh. My skin burned where she dug in.

"Chloe-let the hell go!" I shouted, jerking my arm free with a violent twist.

She hadn't braced for the sudden force. Her body lurched backward,her slipping across the garden floor. She hit the ground with a graceless thud, a short scream tearing out of her throat as she landed on her ass.

"Savannah!"

The voice snapped my head up. My father stood there, fury blazing in his eyes.

Chloe's tears came instantly, like a switch had been flipped. She pointed a trembling finger at me. "She pushed me!"

"That's a lie!" I barked, chest heaving. "She dug her nails into me.I only pulled away!"

"That's not true!" Chloe's sobs shook her shoulders, her voice quivering just enough to sound convincing. Aunt Janice rushed to her side,helping her up as Chloe leaned dramatically against her.

"You liar!" I shot back, rage searing my throat.

"Enough!" Dad roared, his strides long and purposeful as he advanced.His face was red with anger, his hand already raised.

I froze. My stomach plummeted, heart hammering painfully in my chest. I shut my eyes tight, bracing myself for the sting of his slap-the same slap I'd endured so many times before whenever Chloe played her innocent act.

But the slap never came. Not this time.

Cautiously, I cracked one eye open. His hand was suspended midair.caught in an unyielding grip. Roman. He stood between us, his body tense,his jaw tight, holding Dad's hand in place.

"What do you think you're doing?" Roman's voice was dangerously calm,low and edged with steel.

Dad's face contorted in rage as he yanked his hand free. "I'm teaching that girl some manners! Chloe's pregnant, and Savannah shoves her to the floor? Are you trying to make her lose the baby?!" His glare sliced through me like a whip.

My lips parted, words lodged in my throat. I didn't need to answer.Roman already did.

"And you're so quick to believe her... why?" he asked coldly.

"Didn't you see me on the ground?" Chloe interjected, her voice wobbling as she leaned into Aunt Janice.

Roman turned his head slowly, eyes locking on her. "I did." he said.Then he lifted my wvrist for all to see. Red crescent marks lined my skin,raw and angry. "But I also saw this. So tell me, blondie, who's really at fault here?"

Blondie. The name lingered in the air, strange and cutting. I glanced between them, unsettled. Roman's stare was sharp, unyielding. Chloe's reaction was sharper. She flinched as though the word carried some private meaning only the two of them understood.

Why does he always call her that? And why does she look at him like that when he does? Do they... know each other? No. That's impossible. Isn't it?

Their gazes locked, a silent conversation sparking between them.It felt intrusive just watching. Then Chloe tore her eyes away, bolting toward the door with a wail.

"If Dean doesn't come back to me before tomorrow, I'm going to kill myself in my wedding dress!" Her voice rang through the house,shrill and desperate.

Gasps rippled through the air. Mom and Alyssa scrambled after her,shouting her name, their voices fading as they chased her into the house.Chloe didn't answer. She was gone.

The silence that followed was suffocating. Dad turned to me, his face thunderous. "You'd better fix this, Savannah," he seethed. "Or else-" He let the words hang, unfinished but heavy with threat. His eyes flicked toward Roman before narrowing at me. "You know exactly what I mean."

My stomach dropped. I did know. If I didn't fix this mess, he'd tell Roman. About everything.

He turned then, his attention shifting to Roman. "I'd like a word with you.In private."

Roman's jaw flexed. He stared at Dad for a beat before giving a curt

nod. One wordless agreement. Dad stormed off, leaving me,Roman,and little Emily in the garden. She stood glued to Roman's leg, her big eyes wide as she looked between us. She knew. I could see it in her gaze. She already knew he was her uncle.

Roman crouched, brushing his thumb gently overmy wrist where Chloe's nails had torn the skin. His eyes searched mine. "Are you okay?"

I swallowed hard, nodding. "It's nothing." My voice was quieter than I intended. "I need to find Dean."

I turned, desperate to move, to escape the suffocating air, to do something before everything collapsed.

"Savannah, wait." Roman's voice followed me, firm but softer now. He tugged Emily along as he caught up.

I spun to face him,exasperated. "What?"

"And where exactly are you going to start looking?" His question wasn't mocking-it was steady,logical.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice breaking with frustration. "I'll just... look around the places he used to go. He has to be somewhere."

His jaw tightened, his eyes hard. "Then I'll drive you."

I shook my head quickly. "No. I'll be fine. And honestly, I don't think Dean would be thrilled to see you right now."

For a moment. Roman said nothing. Then he exhaled slowly, the fight leaving his shoulders. "Fine. But call me. The second you find something,the second anything happens, just call me."

I nodded,grateful for his relentlessness even if I couldn't accept it. I slipped into the house, heading upstairs to change. I needed a hoodie.something comfortable, something that made me feel shielded. In the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face,stared at my reflection, and tried to will my pulse into slowing down. My wrists still stung where Chloe's nails had cut into me. The marks were raw reminders of just how low she'd sunk.

When I finally stepped back into the room, Roman was waiting.As if he knew I wouldn't leave without seeing him again.

I picked up the fob from the dresser,forcing a small smile."I'm taking this out for a test drive?"

His mouth quirked into a smirk, the sharp edges of earlier softening.He stepped closer, his presence swallowing the space between us. "I'd love to see that."

"I'll save you the second drive." My voice was quieter now,almost playful despite everything.

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. Then he leaned in,gently pulling me against him, and his mouth found mine. The kiss was grounding, steadying, a tether in the middle of the storm.

When he finally drew back, his lipsbrushed mine as he whispered,"Don't forget to call me."

I nodded, holding his gaze for a heartbeat longer than necessary before slipping the fob into my pocket. Then I turned,ready to face whatever came next.