Page 15 of In Darkness We Claim

Tillie huffs. “I’m giving that traitor what she deserves.”

Despite being on the ground in a ball, I manage to find my voice. “I-I’m not a traitor. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Tillie leans around Lawson’s large, muscular body to get a good look at me, her pretty face contorted with rage. “Just because you didn’t know what your father was doing, doesn’t make you innocent. Now, he’s in jail, you’ve lost everything, and as far as I’m concerned, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.”

Her words ring loudly in my ears, and although I can hear what she’s saying, it makes little sense to me. I shake my head rapidly as my tears fall quicker, and I struggle to catch my breath as I sit up. “No. No, you’ve got it all wrong. I saw my dad this morning. He’s not in jail—he would never do anything to end up in there.”

I look over at Ryan, pleading with him once more to confirm what I’m saying. He saw my dad when he picked me up for school this morning, so he can tell them that this is all a misunderstanding.

As he shuffles from one foot to the other, looking uncomfortable, the last thread of hope in me snaps, and I know he’s not going to help me. “It’s true. They arrested him an hour ago. He’s been stealing money from some very important people, and if he talks, like they think he will, prison is his best-case scenario.”

The coldness in Ryan’s voice seeps into my veins, chilling me to the bone as my heart shatters. I can’t even bear to look at Ryan anymore, knowing he believes these lies, so I let my gaze flick over to Lawson, who is still standing over me, protecting me, even though he claims not to be.

When Lawson’s usually blank face shifts into one that can only be described as pity, I know what Ryan is saying is true—my dad is in jail, and I need to help him.

I no longer care about the position I find myself in, or the people around me. All I can think about is getting to my dad and making sure he’s okay. I know in my soul that he’s innocent of the crimes they’re accusing him of. I don’t even need to hear him say it.

I quickly rush to my feet, despite my shaky legs, but as soon as I’m upright, Tillie charges at me, pushing me over once more. I cry out as my flesh scrapes against the rough concrete again, and I’m not surprised to see drops of blood oozing from my knees.

“You better get used to the view from down there, as that’s where you belong now, bitch. You’re a nobody. You have no money, no power, and none of the status that comes with your family name. You’re an outcast with no future and no prospects. You have nothing,” Tillie screams, her high-pitched screeching turning into an almost maniacal laugh at the end.

“Ryan?” I plead with him, hating how desperate I sound, but I don’t have another choice. These hypocrites aren’t even giving me a chance to speak, let alone clear my father’s name.

Ryan winces as he drops his gaze, unable to meet my eyes, and that’s when Sienna steps closer to him. She links her arm through his, and glares down at me with a bitter expression on her face. “Oh, honey, Ryan isn’t going to help you. Now that your marriage contract is over, he has no reason to be with you. Not when he can get his dick sucked by someone else.”

My mouth falls open in shock, as I look between Ryan and Sienna, not missing what she’s hinting at. Despite there being so much I want to say to that, all that comes out is, “The contract isn’t⁠—”

Before I can even finish the sentence, Ryan cuts me off. “My father confirmed that the contract is void. You can’t pay the dowry, and your name would only bring shame to our family. You have nothing to bring to the marriage anymore. I’m sorry, Harper, but it’s over.”

My heart doesn’t break the way I expect it to. In fact, after everything that’s happened in the last few minutes, this insignificant blip barely even registers, which I think says a lot about my feelings for Ryan. But I try to claw back as much of my self-respect as I can in this horrific moment.

I heave myself back to my feet, and the sharp sting of my protesting knees becomes a deafening throb as I force myself to stand tall. Lawson shuffles himself so he’s standing between me and the crowd, but he somehow manages to make it look like he’s not actually helping me, appearing somewhat disinterested still.

“This is all a big mistake,” I tell everyone. “My dad will be released soon, and you’ll all see that this was just a massive misunderstanding.” I try to make sure my words don’t sound shaky, so they have no choice but to believe me.

Hell, I’m trying to convince myself too.

Tillie rushes forward once more and manages to slap me again before Lawson pushes her backwards. Luckily, he intercepts before she can get a proper hit in, so it barely grazes my cheek.

“It’s not a mistake. Your father is a thief who stole from a lot of important people, my father included, and now he’s paying the price…and so are you,” she yells.

As Tillie tries to kick me again, Lawson blocks her and fully steps in front of me. He reaches behind with his arm and tucks me against him, making sure his body is covering mine. The hard muscles of his back press against my front as he pulls me closer, and my breath stutters from the proximity.

“Enough!” he snaps at Tillie. “You’ve made your point.”

“She doesn’t deserve your protection, Lawson,” Tillie replies, fluttering her eyelashes at him, as if that might get him on her side.

I’m grateful nobody can see me rolling my eyes at her pathetic behaviour.

“I’m not protecting her. I’m merely saying you’ve made your point. The whole university now knows, so you have nothing more to gain here,” Lawson explains, sounding almost bored again.

My head spins more than when Tillie slapped me, because despite his words, Lawson is very much protecting me, so I don’t know why he’s denying it. I also don’t understand why he’s helping me.

Since that night at the start of the year, he’s been nothing but hurtful or rude to me, making me question whether our moment actually happened. He’s never shown me even an ounce of kindness, but that’s exactly what this is, and it confuses me all over again.

Tillie stomps her foot as she flicks her hair dramatically. “Fine. But I will not stop making this bitch’s life hell. She can hide away for the summer, but once we’re back next year, her arse is mine.”

Lawson shakes his head, and I’d bet good money, if I could see his face, that he also just rolled his eyes at Tillie being dramatic. “That’s fine; nobody is stopping you. Now, fuck off.”