008: I can never fool Addie.

~~~Rhea~~~

I stepped out of the hotel's side entrance, the new dress swishing around my legs. My heart was still racing, and my brain was a mess trying to figure out logistics. No phone. No cash. No damn dignity left. How the hell was I supposed to get home?

But the second I walked past the grand gates, I spotted a sleek black cab already waiting at the curb, engine idling. The driver gave me a small nod like he’d been expecting me. Of course. This must be Logan’s doing. That controlling bastard had thought of everything.

I hesitated for two seconds, pride warring with reality. If it were up to me, I'd have gone on my own without taking anything he gave to me, but I have to keep my pride aside for now. I don't have any means of going home. Mom, dad, Liam, Addie must all be worried sick about my right now.

I swallowed my irritation and climbed in. I didn’t have a choice. I spent the whole time in the ride staring out the window, chewing on my thumbnail, stomach in knots. What the fuck was I going to say when I got there?

When the cab finally pulled up a block away from our house, I thanked the driver and got out on shaky legs. I didn’t even make it halfway down the street before I froze.

Cops were everywhere.

Three police cars were parked in front of our house, lights flashing. My dad, Theodore, stood in the middle of them, face etched with deep worry lines as he spoke to one of the officers, gesturing sharply. My mom sat on the front steps, head in her hands, crying hard while my brother Liam rubbed her back. Addie was crouched beside her, murmuring soft words, trying to console her.

Guilt slammed into me like a freight train. My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe. This was all my fault. I disappeared the night of my own engagement party, and now my entire family was in distress. They must’ve filed a missing person report because of me which probably explains why the cops are here.

Tears stung my eyes. I stood there for a long moment, frozen in place, heart pounding so loud I could hear it in my ears. What the hell was I going to tell them? “Sorry I was gone all night because I was busy getting fucked senseless by Sebastian’s godfather”?

That's gonna get me killed by my mom and Dad.

Oh Lord, please help me.

But Sebastian? Where is he and why isn't he here?

My eyes scanned the little crowd and there was no sign of him. My brow creased.

Huh? I thought he'd be the most worried person and now he isn't even here? I must be thinking too much. He's probably making his own findings. I'll talk to him later.

I forced my feet to move, walking toward them on autopilot. Every step felt heavier.

Addie’s head snapped up first. Her eyes widened when they landed on me.

“Rhea!” she shouted, jumping to her feet. “Look, Auntie! Rhea’s here!”

My mom’s head flew up. The second she saw me, a broken sob tore out of her. She scrambled up from the steps and rushed toward me, Liam right behind her. My dad turned sharply, relief crashing over his face before it hardened into something closer to anger and worry.

“Rhea! Where the hell have you been?!” my dad’s voice boomed, loud enough that some of the cops turned to look.

My mom pulled me into a crushing hug, still crying. “We thought something terrible happened to you, baby. We were so scared…”

I hugged her back, throat tight, guilt eating me alive from the inside. I had no idea what lie I was about to tell them, but I knew one thing for sure, I couldn’t tell the truth.

“Come in, sweetheart. Oh my God, you’re finally home.” She kept touching my face and arms like she needed to prove I was real.

Addie followed close behind, then my dad and Liam. The cops trailed in too, their expressions shifting from alert to relieved but still professional.

Inside the living room, everyone crowded around me. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. My palms were sweaty. I could barely breathe.

One of the officers pulled out a notepad. “Miss Rhea, we’re glad you’re safe, but we need to know where you were. Your family was extremely worried. They searched the entire venue.”

My mom jumped in, voice still shaky. “We went crazy looking for you, baby. We checked all the rooms we booked. Every single one. We even asked the hotel manager to pull the CCTV footage, but he said the cameras in that corridor were corrupted. Something about a sudden power surge and technical failure last night.”

All eyes turned to me. My dad’s sharp gaze. Liam’s worried one. Addie’s quiet, studying look. The cops waiting.

I swallowed hard, my pulse roaring in my ears. My hands twisted together in my lap. *Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.*

“I… um…” I stammered, cheeks burning. “A waiter… a waiter spilled red wine all over my dress. It was really bad. I didn’t have my room key on me, so I was looking for somewhere to clean up. I saw this door slightly open and I just… slipped inside to clean the stain. But the door got jammed somehow. I couldn’t get out. Then the lights went off and… I think I fainted from the heat and lack of air. I only woke up this morning. The lady who owned the room came back and helped me. She even gave me this dress because mine was ruined. I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to scare everyone.”

The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. I kept my eyes down, too scared to look at any of them for too long.

A heavy silence stretched for a second.

Then my mom let out a huge sigh of relief and pulled me into another tight hug. “Oh thank God. We thought the worst.”

Liam wrapped his arms around both of us. “You scared the shit out of us, sis.”

My dad exhaled deeply, rubbing his face. “Thank you, officers, for coming out. We really appreciate it.”

The cops nodded. One of them turned to me with a serious but kind expression. “Miss, always keep your phone on you, okay? And let someone know where you’re going. These situations can escalate fast and cause unnecessary worry for your family. Take care of yourself.”

I nodded quickly, forcing a small smile. “I will. Thank you so much.”

My dad walked the officers out while my mom started talking dramatically, still holding my hands. “I was losing my mind, Rhea! I kept imagining all these horrible things. Never do that to me again, you hear me?”

Liam chuckled. “Yeah, Mom was ready to call the FBI. Dramatic as always.”

They both laughed a little, the tension slowly easing. I tried to laugh with them, but it came out weak.

My eyes shifted to Addie.

She was standing a few feet away, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Confusion and clear disbelief was written all over her face. She didn’t say anything, but the way she looked at me… she wasn’t buying a single word I uttered.

She knew me too well. If I could fool every single person on earth, I could never fool Addie.

Addie moved quietly and sat beside my mom on the couch. She tilted her head to the side, studying me with that sharp, knowing look I hated.

“Auntie, you don’t need to worry anymore,” she said calmly, rubbing my mom’s shoulder. “Rhea’s back now. She looks like she had a very rough night though…”

Her eyes slowly scanned my body, from my messy hair down to the new dress that didn’t belong to me, lingering a second too long on the faint marks I knew were probably visible on my neck and wrists. I shifted uncomfortably and looked down at my lap, heat crawling up my face. I felt completely exposed.

Addie continued, voice still sweet but with an edge only I could catch. “If you allow, I’d like to take her out for some fresh air. Just a quick drive. I think she needs it.”

My mom nodded immediately, wiping her eyes. “That’s a good idea, Addie. Thank you.” She turned to me, squeezing my hand. “Go quickly freshen up, sweetheart. Go out with her and breathe. You’ve been through enough.”

I forced a small nod. “Okay, Mom.”

I already knew what this was. Addie wasn’t offering a casual drive. She was up to something. She didn’t believe one word of my story, and she was going to corner me until I spilled everything. Still… getting out of the house was probably a good thing. At least no one else would hear whatever bomb she was about to drop on me.

Thank Jesus.