Chapter 4

That night, Claire called me.

"Thea, you can't keep hiding in that little tourist spot. Come work at my dad's hotel."

I was caught off guard, unsure of how to feel.

"Is that... really okay? Won't it cause you any trouble?"

Claire brushed it off with a laugh. "Don't worry about it. Just work as temporary room service. You won't have to be out front, and honestly, the pay's better than selling stuffed animals."

Something about it clicked. Maybe it was time to try something different.

By my third day on the job, there was a birthday party happening in the main hall.

It had nothing to do with me, but the manager called me down to help serve drinks.

When I stepped into the hall, I froze. It was Sean's birthday.

I had completely forgotten.

Not only were a bunch of my college classmates there, but also his new friends from the city.

I scanned the crowd, hoping to spot Claire. I really didn't want to be here.

"What are you looking at?" The manager's voice cut through the noise. "I didn't call you down here to stare. Get moving!" She shoved a tray of drinks into my hands, filling several glasses in one quick motion.

"Go on, hurry up! The main table's waiting!"

Before I could protest, she pushed me forward, sending me into the crowd like a deer in headlights, my tray shaking in my hands.

As I reached the main table, Sophie turned around and bumped into me.

For a split second, I lost my grip, and the tray crashed to the floor.

Glasses shattered. Alcohol splattered everywhere, ruining Sophie's heels and the bottom of her dress.

"Ugh! What's wrong with you? Are you blind?" she snapped.

"I'm so sorry," I muttered, scrambling to clean up the mess, my hands shaking as I gathered up the broken glass.

Sophie's fury was instant.

"Sorry? Do you have any idea how much these shoes cost? Get down and clean them up properly!"

I couldn't help but glance at Sean. He frowned, but he didn't move a muscle.

I understood. He wasn't going to intervene.

"Hurry up!" Sophie barked. "Is this how your hotel handles mistakes?"

Fine.

I pulled out the handkerchief I always kept in my pocket and knelt down to wipe the mess off her shoes.

And just like that, I became the center of attention.

Before I could finish, Sophie's voice rang out with a cruel laugh.

"Well, well, I'm sure some of you remember this girl, right? Anyone know where she's been the last few years?"

My mind went blank.

She was doing this on purpose.

With a sickly sweet smile, she asked, "It's Thea Brown, right? Let me help you all remember where she's been."

It hit me then—Sophie had done her homework. She knew everything.

And she wasn't about to let it go.

The crowd's whispers started up, spreading like wildfire.

I looked up, meeting Sophie's smug eyes, then Sean's cold stare.

It was like a slow-motion car crash. I felt the weight of everyone's gaze.

They were waiting for me to break.

If I was going down, I was going to take control of the fall.

I stood up, straightened my back, and looked at Sophie, then Sean, then the crowd.

No more hiding.

"I don't need your help," I said, my voice steady now. "I'll tell them myself."

The room fell silent.

A deep breath. Then, I let it out.

"A few years ago... I accidentally killed someone. I disappeared because I was in prison."

It wasn't for them. It wasn't for anyone but me.

I just needed to stop running.

Sean shot to his feet, his face pale, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"What did you just say?!"