Page 7 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

“That means a lot coming from you, dear daughter,” Grandpa said.“Now listen.From this day forward, there are new rules at Winterridge.”

“Fuck this,” Cole said and headed for the door.Nate followed suit.

“You miss one Christmas,” Grandpa continued as Cole and Nate waited for Mr.Hawthorne to retrieve their coats.“Just one.And you are out of the will.Completely.”

Mr.Hawthorne returned with their coats, and Cole lifted a hand to stop him before rejoining the family.Ashley smirked.None of them knew how much they’d get in the will, but it was enough to keep them all firmly in place.

Uncle Rick stepped toward Grandpa, his face turning as red as the day Nate filled the toilet with shaving cream so his G.I.Joes could play in the snow.“You’re blackmailing us into Christmas?”

“Call it whatever the hell you want.I’ll call it saving this godforsaken family.And Lily would have done the same.”

Silence fell through the vestibule, and Ashley returned her gaze to Carter.His eyes were still on her, glaring as if he had a million things he wanted to say but refused to utter a single one.The weight of the Christmases that had come and gone hit her square in the chest.

Once upon a time, he would have found a way to rescue her from the drama.He’d distract her family by dropping something on the hardwood, or stumbling down the stairs, giving her a chance to slip away.

“Well,” Aunt Marilyn said, snatching the bottle of whiskey from the bar cart.“Looks like we’re stuck here for the holidays.Merry fucking Christmas.”She raised the bottle and poured a generous splash into a crystal tumbler before taking a sip.

Cole straightened from where he’d been leaning against the wall.“I have work.”

Marilyn laughed.“You haven’t worked a day in your life.”

His brows shot up.“I work!”

“Posting pictures and videos on the internet is not work.”

“Iinfluence,” Cole shot back, crossing his arms over his chest.“It’s a career.”

Marilyn swirled the whiskey in her glass.“Influence what?Overindulgence with money you didn’t work for?”

“It’s called branding.”

She took another sip.“It’s called unemployment.”

“Why don’t you have another drink, Mom?”

Ashley stared wide-mouthed at the exchange.Cole was the golden boy, the one who could do no wrong in Marilyn’s eyes.For her to criticize him so openly, something had shifted.But what?

“Enough!”Grandpa barked from the top of the stairs.He glanced at Carter and shook his head before looking down at everyone.“The rules are non-negotiable.Lily wanted Christmas at Winterridge to continue, and I failed her.Not anymore.From now on, I’m going to give her that wish even if I have to drag you all here every December until I’m dead!”

“Until you’re really dead, right?Not fake dead?”Nate asked with a sharp edge to his tone.

Ashley flinched.The question echoed around them, dredging up every text she sent, everysorry for your lossresponse she received, every tear she’d spent mourning a man who had been alive all along.Anger burned hot beneath her ribs, tangled with relief she couldn’t quite bring herself to feel.

“Yes, until I’m really dead.For two weeks every December, I want you here.If you have work, you bring it with you, but you must be in the house, or my lawyers will be contacted and my will be updated.”He clapped his hands together.“Now, let the festivities begin!”

Festivities?The man faked his death, trapped them at Winterridge for Christmas, and somehow he expected everyone to smile through it like one big happy family.An immovable weight settled in her chest, stealing her breath.This was all too much.She didn’t need Carter to rescue her.She slipped away on her own, dipping into one of the hallways and hurrying as far away from her family as possible.

Her heels clicked against the marble floors, echoing off towering wood-paneled walls.She rounded a corner and slammed into a solid chest.

Strong hands caught her before she bounced on her ass.The scent of cedar and crisp winter nights painfully twisted her stomach as she glanced up into familiar blue eyes.

“Careful, Ash,” he said, his voice deeper, huskier than it had been the last she’d heard it.

“Of course, you’re here.”She hated the quaver in her voice, the unsteady breath she inhaled.

“I never left.”

Ash swallowed, ignoring the pull that had always been so strong between them.“Well, maybe you should have.”She ripped herself away from him, stepping back and ignoring her thundering pulse.But Carter’s voice followed her through the corridor.