Page 135 of The Sound Between Us
“The thing is, Seren, you’ve shown the world who you are now. That level of attention—it’s a gift, but it’s also a responsibility. You need someone who understands how to navigate it.”
“Someone like you?”
“I’m offering to represent you. I have the experience, the contacts, the understanding of how to build a career that lasts.”
The coffee arrives, steam curling up from the white porcelain cup, and I wrap my hands around the mug. The liquid burns my tongue, but the pain feels appropriate somehow.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Of course.” Henry adjusts his cufflinks, a sharp, precise movement. “You know, your family’s quite the talented bunch.”
My coffee cup freezes halfway to my lips.
“Your sister especially. Hailey, right? Beautiful girl. Very... enthusiastic about her career.”
Something cold spreads through my chest. My ribs feel too tight. “Half-sister.”
“Right. We’ve actually met before, Hailey and I. At a party in the Hills a few months back.” He takes a deliberate sip of his coffee. “She was there with Harrison, actually. Quite the pair, those two.”
The words burrow into my brain. “Harrison was at a party with Hailey?”
“Oh yes. Industry thing. Very cosy, from what I saw.” Henry’s voice is casual, conversational. “Though I suppose that’s between them, isn’t it? What happens at parties in the Hills...”
My hand starts to shake around the coffee cup. “What are you saying?”
“I’m not saying anything, love. Just making conversation.” He leans back in his chair, studying me. “Though I did notice Harrison never mentioned knowing your sister when you two got together. Interesting, don’t you think?”
The restaurant tilts sideways. Every sound becomes too loud—the clink of cutlery, the murmur of conversation, the rush of blood in my ears.
“You’re lying.”
Henry reaches into his jacket pocket, pulls out his phone. “Am I? Because I’m pretty sure I’ve got some photos from that night. Nothing explicit, of course. Just... friendly.”
He starts scrolling through his camera roll, and I can’t. Can’t sit here and watch him produce evidence. Can’t reconcile the man who declared his love to fifty thousand people last night with someone who would sleep with Hailey and never think to mention it.
Can’t breathe.
I’m standing before I’ve consciously decided to move, the chair scraping against marble. The hotel robe feels paper-thin, too exposed.
“Seren?” Henry calls after me as I stumble toward the entrance, his voice carrying just the right note of concern. “Seren, where are you going? I’m sorry if I’ve upset you—”
But I can’t answer because words have become impossible.
The hotel lobby is marble and crystal and expensive neutrality, designed to soothe.
It doesn’t help.
Nothing helps.
My chest is caving in, and Harrison is upstairs sleeping peacefully, and I don’t know how to reconcile those two truths without breaking apart completely.
I fumble for my phone, scrolling until I find Dad’s number. He answers on the second ring.
“Seren? What’s wrong? It’s barely morning there—”
“Dad, I need to get home. Now.”
High-pitched. Desperate. I sound unhinged.
