Chapter 417

I continued, “You knew Desmond couldn’t handle being betrayed by his wife and his best friend. You were banking on him losing it, and when he did, your brother swooped in, cutting him off at just the right moment, making sure he’d crash.”

Tanya’s face went ghost-white as my words hit her. She shook her head frantically. “No! That’s a lie! You’re just trying to ruin me because you don’t want me getting the amusement park!”

Jace grabbed her arm, his eyes blazing. “Is it true, Tanya? Tell me!”

“It’s not! Jace, you were the one who always came onto me!” Tanya sobbed, tears streaking her face. “Keira, you see? It was always him. From the start, it was all him!”

“Cheater! Liar! Shameless!”

The crowd was already getting rowdy, and now they turned on Jace. People started pushing and shoving, and the women were the loudest, throwing insults his way.

“Stop!” A deep voice cut through the chaos.

Everyone froze as Hayden stepped forward, holding up his phone. Without a word, he hit play.

Just make sure you cut him off while he’s driving… Even if something goes wrong, it won’t trace back to you. You didn’t touch him… My sister set it all up. She said if this works, I’ll be living the good life as Jace Johnston’s brother-in-law…

It was Brad’s voice.

Tanya’s face went from pale to ashy. She shook her head, practically falling apart. “No, no, it’s not like that!”

“Your brother’s already been arrested,” Hayden said, his voice like ice. “The cops will sort it out.”

The crowd shifted, and now all that anger turned on Tanya. People were shouting, calling her every name in the book.

“If any of you hurt her, that’s a crime too,” Hayden warned, totally calm.

The crowd backed off, but the insults kept flying. Soon enough, the police showed up and carted Tanya away, ending her pathetic attempt to take control.

Meanwhile, Matthew had freaked out so badly he had to be rushed to the hospital. Jace just stood there, staring into space like he wasn’t even in his body anymore, and Wayne was doing his best to keep things from going off the rails.

“You knew this whole time,” Wayne said quietly, stepping up to me. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

I turned to look at him, this guy who was always so nice, so easygoing, but right now? He felt like someone I didn’t even know.

Wayne shifted uncomfortably under my stare. “Rea…”

“Who says just because you know something, you have to speak up?” I shot back, my voice sharp.

He blinked, caught off guard. “I… I was…”

“What would you have done if I hadn’t spoken up today?” I pressed, eyes locked on him. “Let Tanya drag Jace through the mud without saying a word?”

Wayne opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

I didn’t wait for him to find the words. I turned and started walking away.

People are selfish, that’s just a fact of life. I just didn’t expect to see it play out right in front of me like this.

“I did it for you,” Wayne said, grabbing my arm, his voice desperate.

I looked down at his hand, then back at him, my gaze cold. “Saying that just makes it worse.”