Chapter 5
Chapter 5:
Azalea guided a shaking Eliza out of the jewelry store and into a quiet, upscale café two doors down. She pushed her into a booth and ordered two double espressos without looking at the menu.
“Okay,” Azalea said, sitting down and fixing Eliza with an unwavering stare. “Spill. You’re married. For real p>
Eliza nodded. She was twisting the ring on her finger, the metal warm against her skin.
“Who is he?” Azalea demanded. “And don’t give me that ‘complicated’ line again. Anson looked like he wanted to murder someone. I need a name p>
Eliza took a deep breath and looked at her best friend. Azalea had pulled her away from bullies in high school. She had snuck her food when Anson locked her in her room. She couldn’t lie to her.
“Promise you won’t scream,” Eliza said.
Azalea crossed her arms. “Try me p>
“It’s Dallas. Your father p>
Azalea blinked. Once. Twice. The ambient noise of the café seemed to warp and recede into a dull roar. Her face went blank — a mask of pure, unadulterated shock. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, her expression shifting visibly as her brain worked to process the impossible words.
Then, slowly, a dangerous grin spread across her face.
“You’re… my stepmom?” Azalea whispered.
𝘕е𝘸 𝘄𝗲𝘦𝘬𝗅𝘺 c𝗁аpt𝖾𝗿s о𝗻
Eliza covered her face with both hands. “It’s just a contract! For protection! I needed to get away from Anson, and he — he offered p>
Azalea burst out laughing. It was a loud, joyous cackle that startled a nearby waiter carrying a tray of pastries.
“Oh my god,” Azalea gasped, pressing a hand to her eye. “Anson is going to lose his mind. He’s going to stroke out p>
Eliza peeked through her fingers. “You’re not mad p>
“Mad?” Azalea leaned forward and grabbed Eliza’s hands. “Eliza, I have been trying to get Dad to date for five years. He’s a monk. A workaholic robot. And you — you are perfect p>
“But he’s your dad,” Eliza said weakly. “It’s weird p>
“He’s lonely,” Azalea said, her voice going serious. “And you need a tank to fight Anson. My dad is a tank. He’s a nuclear submarine p>
She squeezed Eliza’s hands. “We are going to destroy Claudine and Anson. We are going to bury them p>
A wave of relief washed over Eliza, so powerful it nearly knocked the air from her lungs. She wasn’t losing her best friend. She had gained an ally.
“Thank you,” Eliza whispered.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Azalea said, already pulling out her phone. “We have work to do. Dad’s credit card is crying out to be used p>
“I can’t spend his money,” Eliza protested.
“It’s not his money,” Azalea said, eyes bright with mischief. “It’s ‘step-mommy support p>
Eliza groaned, but a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips.
Azalea’s phone pinged. She glanced at the screen, then turned it to face Eliza.
It was a text from Dallas.
Is she okay?
Azalea raised an eyebrow. “See? He cares p>
Eliza stared at the three words. Simple. Direct.
“He just doesn’t want his asset damaged,” she said, trying to convince herself. “It’s a business deal p>
Azalea rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. “You are so blind.” She tucked her phone away and reached for her espresso. “But that’s okay. I see everything p>