“I’m just hungry,” I lied, forcing a bite into my mouth, even as my hands continued to tremble. The years in prison had broken me in ways I didn’t want to acknowledge. But the hope that the truth would come out, the thought of Marcus—those had been the only things keeping me alive.
Now, I wished I had died in there instead of learning this truth—that Marcus had never truly loved me.
“Gracie is here. We don’t want her to find out about us,” Marcus had whispered earlier, his hand caressing Anastasia’s face as she nuzzled into him like they were lovers.
I had never seen her like that with my brother. Never that affectionate.
“Yes, it’s best we keep it a secret for now—at least until the case is fully closed,” Anastasia had murmured, voice laced with pain. “I miss Lily. How I wish Gracie didn’t do it, but the truth is painful. I can’t hate her, though. She’s like a sister to me.”
She had spoken of me as if I were already guilty. As if I had done the unthinkable.
“How I wish it too.” Marcus had sighed. “The case has been reopened, and someone’s been digging up new evidence. But there are still discrepancies. If only I could do everything to help you find Lily, Anastasia. I know how much you miss your daughter. But Gracie knows where she disposed of the body.”
“Yes, she does.” Anastasia’s voice had hardened. “And you must find out where. Lily loved and trusted her. If she truly cared, she would confess.”
“I will, Anna. I will.”
The words had cut through me like knives.
Anastasia had never truly believed me. None of them had.
Now, Marcus poured my favorite berry wine, offering it with a smile. “Thank you,” I murmured, forcing myself to act normal.
“I’ll make it up to you, Cie,” he said, slicing the beef for me when he noticed my shaking hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t visit you. The pack—there were so many responsibilities.”
“Why are your hands shaking?” he asked, brows furrowing in concern.
“My life in prison wasn’t easy,” I replied flatly, taking a sip of the wine. “You know, I wanted to end it all so many times. But I kept thinking of you, Marcus. And I held onto the hope that the truth would come out.” I met his gaze, swallowing hard. “I read the only letter you sent me over and over again for five years. It was the only thing that gave me hope.”
Marcus froze, the knife halting mid-cut. His eyes darkened with something unreadable. “What did they do to you?”
I hesitated.