11. Laurene
CHAPTER 11
Laurene
Erik’s sleek sedan purred quietly as he drove through the gates of the Ashbournes’ resort, up a gorgeous driveway with perfect hedges and bright flowers.
I checked the rearview mirror again, but my own wide eyes stared back.
Erik glanced at me, then behind us. “What do you keep looking for?”
“Nothing.”
I forced my hands to still in my lap, but the feeling crawled up my spine anyway, cold and certain—like I was being watched.
With the wedding three weeks out at this point, almost everything should have been sorted already. Coming here was taking up time to follow leads about our blackmailer. Maybe Mama was trying to twist the knife further and shove this in my face? Let me know how little choice I had?
“What the hell was that asshole thinking?” Erik muttered, but I shook my head. “He had no right to leave you like that.”
I sighed. “It’s complicated. He’s just…stubborn.”
“Don’t excuse stranding you like that.” His voice rose. “Do you want me to talk to him? Set his ass straight?”
I chuckled despite myself. “No need to get violent, E. I’m a big girl.”
He sighed, rubbing his face. Mama had been running him ragged lately.
“Yeah, you’ve got your moments, but I still remember having to be the one to sneak out and pick you and Noelle up from Monterrey ’cause y’all got busted with those fake IDs from China.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why you bringing up old news? They worked for a while until our faces got scratched up.”
Erik laughed, but luckily, I remembered the old guest list for the engagement party. Mama still had it tucked away in the basement. Something told me it was worth another look.
Blair’s name had been there, front and center.
How could I have forgotten her ?
“It’s between us. I’ll handle it.”
Blair Sterling had a way of making herself a problem . Six years later, and just her name still pissed me off. Over the years, we butted heads over everything—pageants, school elections, even whose family threw the better charity gala.
I mostly won, but Blair kept trying.
I didn’t agree with Mama on much, but when it came to the Sterlings, we were on the same damn page. There was always something opportunistic about them, and gossip from Gigi had revealed that Blair and Reese had apparently become close friends since I left.
Reese had befriended my fucking nemesis—and didn’t tell me.
Erik’s eyes narrowed. “You sure? I can handle him. Hell, I wanna handle him.”
“I’m sure.” I injected as much calm into my voice as I could muster. “Why didn’t you tell me you bailed him out of jail a few times?”
Erik gripped the wheel, then shrugged. “’Cause it wasn’t about you.”
That threw me.
“What?”
“Look, I don’t even like dude like that. But he reminded me of—” He stopped, drumming his fingers on the wheel. “I don’t know, Lu. You was gone. Reese was… You ever see somebody and just know they on the edge?”
I shifted uncomfortably, pressing against the door.
“He was out there fuckin’ up, gettin’ locked up, actin’ like shit didn’t matter. Everybody was acting like they didn’t care. Not his people, not the cops, sure as hell not our folks. And I—” He hesitated, then shook his head. “I thought if someone gave a shit, he wouldn’t end up another name we only say in past tense.”
A lump formed in my throat.
I hadn’t expected that .
“You could’ve told me.”
He snorted. “Yeah? And what, have you run back here tryna save him? You were in Paris, tryna hold yourself together, and I was here holdin’ everything else down. I didn’t need you worrying about the family that already fucked everything up.”
I stared at him. “So you did it because you actually care?”
“Look, don’t read too much into it. That fool still dumb as hell.”
The car went quiet, the only sound the hum of the tires against the road.
You fucked up so bad, Laurene…
I should have just told the truth. Maybe I would have been disowned, but now I understood why Reese was so angry. What if I were him? Could I even look at myself and not feel that rage? Regret? Disappointment?
I could survive anything—except the weight of knowing I failed him.
But he still didn’t tell me about being friends with Blair. He knew how I felt about her. Was that him getting back at me?
Had something gone down between them while I was gone? Or worse, was it happening now?
Was she using him? Prying her way into our mess for her own damn benefit? The thought made me sick. Did she see us that night? Could she have known what was really going on?
I watched as the resort got closer. “Miles was able to drive me back home.”
“Don’t bring that shit up. I’m not in the mood.”
“He used to be your best friend. Why won’t you talk to him?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“I get it, what Omar did to Mama and Daddy was…” I exhaled, searching for the right words. “It was bad. But now we know he wasn’t in his right mind. He was using. Can we blame Miles for choosing to defend his father?”
Erik’s silence was more telling than any words.
As we drove up, the grand entryway was framed by imposing white marble pillars. Impeccably uniformed valets stood ready. Erik parked, and a valet was right there to open the doors.
Erik turned, sighing sadly. “Some things are beyond forgiveness.”
Reese’s words were on my mind. All these years, I had told myself that I’d done what I had to do.
I slowly exhaled, fingers curling in my lap. If I had told the truth back then—if I had stood my ground, instead of letting the weight of my family and this town hold me in place—what would my life have looked like now?
Conrad would still be alive. Reese wouldn’t have suffered. I wouldn’t have lost those years.
“Do you think they intentionally chose this place for the wedding?” I asked as the valet opened my door.
Years ago, my grandfather had fought tooth and nail to keep this property, but in the end, it slipped through our fingers and landed in the Ashbournes’ lap. They never let us forget it, and now, to use it as the venue for my wedding?
Erik gave me a look. “Hell yeah.”
Instrumental music played as I looked around. A woman in a sleek black dress walked by, her phone tilted slightly—was she taking a picture? My stomach did a flip. I scanned the parking lot and driveway.
Chill out. The Ashbournes own this. It’s safe.
“You’re free to go,” I said, seeing Erik near the car.
I was partially scared of what Erik would do to Reese, but it still felt weird to interact with Reese in front of my family, and not in secret.
Erik raised a brow. “I’m not gonna swing on him.”
“You have a company to run. You don’t need to babysit me.”
“And catch hell from Mama for not showing up and making sure the Ashbournes ain’t fuck shit up? Nah, Mama would have my head.”
“I’m thirty-three years old.” My chest felt tight. “If I can survive Paris on my own, I’ll manage here.”
Erik studied me for a long moment, jaw tight.
I held his stare, unflinching.
Finally, he sighed, shaking his head. “Stubborn as hell.”
“I learned from the best.”
A motorcycle roared up, cutting me off before I could say anything. My heart skipped as Reese sped in on his Harley Davidson Fat Boy.
Erik’s expression darkened. “Speak of the devil.”
The bike grumbled, then growled to a halt. I felt annoyance, excitement, and longing all at once.
Control yourself, Laurene. Focus.
Shit, I might have to let Gigi hook me up with her friend who sold vibrators.
Reese swung off the bike smoothly. Sunlight glinted on the chrome; his jacket clung to his shoulders. He removed his helmet, his tousled hair tumbling free, and his piercing green eyes locked on to mine.
Memories slipped in, uninvited—the countless times I’d ridden with him late into the night. Lying to Mom and Dad about seeing Noelle or attending a charity meeting. The rush of breaking the rules. The wind was blowing through my hair, and his body felt warm against mine.
“You got some fucking nerve,” Erik snapped, blocking Reese from me. “You just gonna show up like nothin’ happened? That ain’t cool, man.”
I placed a hand on Erik’s shoulder. “It’s okay.”
“She knew her way home,” Reese said flatly.
I was proud he held Erik’s gaze. Erik had a scary side.
Erik chuckled, and wiped his nose. “You’re a cocky bastard.”
“Just realizing that?”
I sighed.
Erik slapped Reese’s shoulder lightly, the gesture friendly at first, but I saw the way his fingers dug into Reese’s shoulder blade.
“Got some nerve, I’ll give you that,” Erik said, his tone still playful, but then his expression hardened. “But if you do that again and leave my sister stranded”—he stepped in closer, his voice dropping an octave—“I’ll whoop yo’ ass like you stole something.”
For a brief second, I saw Reese go pale.
I had to hold back my laugh. A tiny part of me enjoyed seeing this. I doubted anybody had ever talked to Reese this way before.
“Even God wouldn’t get me up off you if you do some dumb shit like this again.” Erik’s threat was clear. “Remember, you’re about to be family. Act like it. I’m only sayin’ this once. I would hate for you to have a black eye at the wedding and mess the photos and shit up.”
I laughed. “I think we’re good.”
“Nah, if we gon’ be brothers-in-law, he needs to know the rules.” Erik let go of Reese, giving him one last intense look. “So, let’s keep things smooth, alright? Govern yourself accordingly.”
Though less brash, Reese didn’t look away.
“Holler if you need anything.” Erik glared at Reese.
He left, and when Reese looked my way, his scowl was even deeper.
I quickly turned toward the resort. Staff stood ready, offering crystal glasses of water, their trays gleaming with lemon slices. Above us hung a huge glass-and-gold chandelier.
“Laurene!” Jennie appeared.
Conrad was the eldest Ashbourne; Jennie was a year younger. Like Gigi, Reese’s older siblings were five or six years older.
With a big smile, she rushed over for a hug. We chatted at the party, and she was always sweet.
“I told Reese to swing by my mom’s with you so we could catch up faster.” Jennie shot Reese a dirty look.
She was Conrad’s double. Those piercing blue eyes held an intensity that made me momentarily uncomfortable. While hers were warm, Conrad’s had been colder. He never looked at me with any real feeling. Jennie inherited her mother’s tawny-gold hair; Conrad’s was black.
I used to joke that Conrad was an ice-cold Clark Kent.
He had the looks, the charm, the easy way of making people want to believe in him. But where Superman was all heart, Conrad was… There was nothing. No heart, no soul, no real care. Just a guy who knew how to play the part and make everyone believe it.
I saw it at the gala that night. We’d just taken a photo; his arm was around me, and he had this easy, charming smile. He seemed delightful, gracious, and perfect. But the second the camera flashed and the photographer turned away, his expression dropped like a mask slipping off.
The warmth drained from his face, and all that was left was…nothing. I knew it then. Conrad didn’t feel—he performed.
Reese remained silent as Jennie chattered. “Let’s not keep the wedding planner waiting. Yvonne wants you to do a walk-through of the venue. Just one last glance to make sure nothing’s missing.”
I walked with Jennie, dreading another wedding. Would I make it to three, four weddings in this life?
“How’s running the place, especially now?” I gestured to her stomach.
“It’s a whirlwind, honestly. But seeing everything come together, especially with this little one on the way, it’s like everything makes sense now.” Jennie’s face brightened.
“What are you having?”
“It’s a surprise,” she said. “Everyone hates not knowing. But David and I like it this way.”
“Just like you. Always keeping everyone guessing,” Reese chimed in.
“You’re invited to the baby shower, Laurene!” Jennie told me. “Hopefully baby won’t be at the party with us yet, though.”
We stepped through the grand door of the terrace, and it unveiled a breathtaking ocean view, and a stone pathway lined with seashells and lanterns led to an enchanting gazebo. It was draped in flowing white chiffon, adorned with vibrant bougainvillea, filling the air with the sweet scent of jasmine.
“You like it?” Jennie asked, breaking the spell.
I was speechless.
Rows of elegant white chairs and delicate white silk bows fluttered gently in the breeze. It was far beyond my expectations. Memories of my previous wedding planning flashed through my mind, just stifled conversations and hurried directions.
“Here’s your guide for the tour. I need to catch up on some business,” Jennie said as a staff member approached.
Jennie squeezed Reese’s shoulder as she passed him. “Are you coming to the mansion party next week?”
My brow furrowed in surprise. “Mansion party?”
Jennie glared at Reese. “You haven’t told Laurene about the party? She has to come.”
“We’ve been busy,” Reese said.
To avoid upsetting Jennie, I smiled. “I’ll gladly come.”
Grinning, Jennie playfully punched Reese then left. “Good. You better make sure she’s there, Reese! Black tie!”
The staff gestured toward the far end of the terrace. “Should we keep going?”
We were led through the resort, and at certain moments they pointed out details for our ceremony. My heart did a little flip when she led us to the bridal suite. The room’s muted tones unsettled me, especially the empty space for the bridal gown.
Will this all be over before the wedding?
I noticed something strange on the dressing table, and I stepped closer to investigate. A hairpin and a bracelet scattered near the edge—and a vase of white lilies.
I stared, transfixed by a sudden chill.
I looked back at Reese. When he recognized the flowers, his face tightened.
The bracelet was Conrad’s wedding gift to me. The first thing I’d tossed into the trash at the airport after everything fell apart. How was it here? How could it be here?
“Are these from the last bride?” I asked, trying not to let my panic show.
I lifted the hairpin, another gift from Conrad I’d thrown away.
My heart pounded in my chest, a sharp rhythm, like a countdown.
“Sometimes they leave personal things behind, but I wouldn’t worry.”
I didn’t love Conrad. Our engagement was just a show, a way for the family to stay in control.
“This way.”
The ornate double doors swung open, revealing a private room. Cakes were on a table in the middle. Reese bristled as the planner told us we would be cake tasting for our wedding cake.
“Do we really need to decide on this right now?”
“I know wedding planning can be overwhelming, but this is one of the fun parts!” They looked between us. “Mrs. King insisted you two choose the cake.”
Reluctantly, Reese and I sat at the table, facing the food. My stomach started growling as the planner stepped out in the hallway. Reese immediately noticed.
“Did you eat anything today?”
How could I eat with everything going on? “Honestly, it didn’t cross my mind.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Skipping meals like this is bad for you.”
This was an old argument we’d had a hundred times. Reese reached over, grabbed a fork, and swiped a piece of cake from a nearby platter and held it up to my mouth. “Eat.”
My eyebrow rose. “Are you serious?”
The cake and frosting looked delicious. But I’d gotten back into Pilates and yoga, and that couldn’t be disrupted.
“C’mon, don’t act like I haven’t fed you before,” he said, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
There had been countless late nights, me curled up in his lap, sharing bites of takeout while the glow of the television flickered across our faces. We’d laugh until our sides hurt, the world outside forgotten.
“You know you love it when I take charge.”
My heart pounded; I inched closer, watching him.
Reese’s eyes glinted dangerously as he offered me cake. He fed me, his fingers brushing my lips. The sweetness of the cake exploded on my tongue, with the tingle of his touch left behind.
“See? Not so bad, right?” he murmured, his voice smooth and rich, almost a purr. I felt challenged by his words, my pulse racing.
“Not bad at all.”
It was actually fun tasting cakes. I reached for another cake, vanilla this time, and cautiously took a bite, trying to get rid of butterflies in my belly. It wasn’t the same as when he fed me.
“It’s good,” I murmured.
He nodded, his lips twisting. “Yeah, not bad.”
I caught the look on his face and shook my head, a small laugh slipping out before I could stop it.
“You hate vanilla.”
Reese paused. “I didn’t think you’d remembered that.”
“I didn’t forget. Don’t just settle for the first one.” I pulled the plate away from him.
He couldn’t hide the smile. “I figure if we settle on the first one, we can avoid trying all the flavors and get the hell out of here.”
“And what? Have this cake stuck in our freezer forever?”
I almost forgot we wouldn’t have a real marriage.
We weren’t gonna spend years together. I was focused on getting my money. And leaving Reese behind. But it was nice to have a light moment, forget about life or death, or that blackmailer maybe watching.
“Now that you put it like that…this shit is awful.” Reese chuckled warmly and genuinely.
We moved on to the next cake—a rich chocolate ganache. He gave me another bite, and his fingers lingered on my face a bit too long. We tried a few more flavors—lemon chiffon with blueberry compote, red velvet with cream cheese frosting—each one delicious, and slowly I found myself relaxing as conversation between us flowed.
The planner returned with her clipboard. “So, which was your fav?”
Reese was lost in thought, slowly licking the lingering cake off his spoon. That sight gave me goosebumps in a good way.
“Can you give us a moment?” I waited till she left, but Reese spoke before I could.
“I need to apologize for everything I said at the yacht club,” he began. “You were right. It’s not something to just rush into without a plan. I’m sorry.”
“You must be really terrified Erik’s gonna kick your ass.”
Reese snorted. “I think he’s the only one in town who could.”
“I’m sorry too,” I said softly, my fingers tracing the edge of my glass. The words felt strange in my mouth, foreign. “I shouldn’t have said…what I said before. It wasn’t fair.”
I peeked at him. For a second, Reese didn’t say a word; his face gave nothing away. The silence stretched between us, and I almost wished he’d interrupt, save me from the rawness of the moment.
But he didn’t.
I had to say this.
“I know we used to talk about leaving it all behind, but I lied to you. I lied about wanting to start over. Deep down, I liked how safe I was, how everything made sense. I thought it would be easy—letting you handle telling Mama I wouldn’t marry Conrad.” Though my voice shook, I continued. This was the truth. I’d avoided it too long.
“It wasn’t easy. I didn’t want to give all that up. When she stared me down in that room, I caved. I gave in so fucking easy. I wasn’t as brave as you.” I swallowed hard, the weight of it pressing down. “I didn’t realize until Paris what it truly means to stand on your own. I thought leaving was easier, but it wasn’t. Not for me. And certainly not for you.”
I breathed shakily. “You deserved so much more and someone who stayed. I’m sorry I caused you to suffer because I only cared about saving myself. I know we have to do this arranged marriage, but I hope you find someone who helps you carry the weight. I’ll make sure you’re vindicated after. I’ll tell the truth.”
His expression surprised and silenced me.
“My family… We all went to therapy right after Conrad died,” he said finally, almost like he was confessing a secret. “They said it helped. My mom, my sister—even my dad went. And I tried, I did. For a while.”
I blinked in surprise. “Therapy?”
“Went, yeah. Sat there, mostly. Never really talked.” He shrugged, but his tension showed. “I didn’t want to dig all that up. Figured if I ignored it, maybe it’d just go away.”
“Did it?” I asked gently.
Reese’s jaw tightened, and he shook his head. “It just sits there, like this damn weight that never leaves. I was angry. I felt like if I talked about it, all the anger, the guilt, it would just swallow me whole.”
That really broke my heart. “Shutting it out doesn’t make it disappear. It just makes it hurt longer.”
“I know. But when I was there, I couldn’t stand the idea—I felt like something broken that needed fixing, but I knew I couldn’t be.”
I placed my hand over his.
“It felt like…if I admitted I was messed up, that maybe I couldn’t come back from that,” he went on. “I felt like I’d just end up proving everyone right. That I was the screw-up they thought I was. And so I quit.”
I didn’t know what to say. His words unraveled something inside me, something raw and unsteady.
“I don’t know why I’m even telling you this,” he muttered, a trace of his old defensiveness creeping back. “Guess I figured… I dunno. It doesn’t matter.”
But it did matter.
Reese wasn’t soft. He was all bravado and reckless decisions. Back then, what got me was how he lived life on his own terms, ignoring all the rules. It was the opposite of everything I was, of everything I’d been taught to be. I told myself I came back for business. But deep down, I think I was always coming back for him.
Back then, in the shadow of family feuds and public scrutiny, he’d made me feel alive in ways I hadn’t known I needed. The stolen moments, the whispered arguments that turned into heated make-outs, the secret we shared.
With Reese, I wasn’t the carefully controlled version of myself that the world expected. I was just Laurene.
And he was the only one who saw her— my rawest form.
I should’ve said something cold, something to push him back into that safe distance. I wasn’t staying in Lush. We were under threat.
Instead, something in me faltered.
My old self was coming back. The sweet and kind Laurene. I hated how much I noticed the subtle hitch in his voice, the way he ran a hand through his hair like he didn’t know what to do with himself. He survived without me. And I hate that I can’t say the same.
“I have to tell you something too. I’ve been thinking…what if Blair Sterling could be behind the blackmail?”
Reese raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. “Blair?”
“Why not? She was at the engagement party that night, and I’ve been combing through old photos. She’s in almost every single one of them.”
Reese pursed his lips. “Blair’s more the type to stab you in the chest than stab you in the back.”
“When were you gonna tell me you were friends with her?” My voice came out sharp, a lot sharper than I intended. “Or were you just waiting for the right moment to rub it in my face?”
Reese’s expression hardened. “It’s not like that, Laurene. She’s not even?—”
“Did you fuck her while I was gone?”
I needed to know. If he’d done it, everything would’ve changed. It’d all be different.
“You think I’d do that?” Reese’s voice had a sharp edge now.
“Yes or no?”
He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it, visibly fighting with himself. His eyes shifted, and for a split second, I saw it—the crack. But then he shut it down. “You don’t get to ask me that.”
“I’m going to be your wife?—”
“This is not a real marriage. Whoever I may or may not have fucked is not your business, and whoever you were with is not mine.” His gaze locked on to mine, intense. “Let’s focus on what’s coming for us, Laurene. We’ve got bigger problems.”
I took a breath. I guessed it was time to finally confess.
“She confronted me at the engagement party.”
Reese raised an eyebrow. “Confronted you? About what?”
I paused, thinking it over. It had been years, but the memory still stirred something in me that felt like mild shame mixed with justification.
“She wanted to talk about the pills I caught her taking.”
Reese’s eyes widened in surprise.
I never wanted to be that person— the manipulator . Like Mama who turned every moment of weakness into an opportunity. Blair left me no choice then. I mean, she’d do the same to me if we were in each other’s shoes.
“Right before my last pageant, a few months before the engagement party, I saw her in the bathroom. She was popping pills like they were candy. God knows what they were. For her to lose weight, maybe?” I swallowed, the bitterness rising in my throat. “I took a photo of it.”
Reese blinked, his expression now a mixture of disbelief and judgment. “That got leaked online. Everyone saw.”
“There’s a consequence for every action.” I shrugged.
I did not leak the photos. I just gave someone else the opportunity to.
“Holy shit, Laurene. You really think that makes it okay?” He pushed his plate slightly away.
“Blair isn’t some innocent victim. She don’t get to pick and choose when karma’s a problem.”
He wasn’t convinced, not fully.
“She had sent me a couple of threats after that, leading up to the engagement party, but I just brushed them off.”
Reese leaned back in his seat.
“If there’s someone who dislikes me more than anyone in town, it’s Blair. If we’re gonna accuse Toby, let’s put her on the list too.”
“What exactly did she threaten you with?”
“She threatened me with some photos.” I swallowed, not even wanting to think anything of it. “Blair had gotten her hands on photos of my father. They were taken during a trip he’d made to Miami.”
“Photos of your father doing what?”
That was my father’s business and his alone. “Partying. Daddy doesn’t do it often. But if the photos got out it would be bad press.”
Reese’s brow furrowed. “So, what did you do?”
“I paid her off,” I said flatly, my gaze shifting as I remembered it. “It was everything she asked for, and then some.”
Reese’s eyebrows lifted. “So you just…gave in?”
“Not exactly.” I didn’t look at him. “I hired a photographer to be there when I paid her. I mean, what would the town think if they caught photos of Blair extorting me ? Well, gosh, if those photos got out it would be terrible for her family, wouldn’t it?”
“This is too much. Blair blackmailed you. You blackmailed her right back. Now she could have blackmailed you again? I mean…” Reese ran a hand through his hair. “You know what? I need to go.”
“Wait,” I said.
“I used to think you weren’t like this town, Laurene. You didn’t do the bullshit lying, manipulating, and cheating, like everyone else here does. But now I see you’re the same. You are this town.” He paused, then added, almost to himself, “I need time.”
Shit, why did I tell him?
Reese walked out, and I gathered my things in a daze, ready to get the hell out. I told the staff to pick a cake as I brushed past them. When I stepped into the lobby, I paused, taking a deep breath.
I thought we were in this together.
I felt a rush of uncertainty and anger coursing through me. Blair was playing a dangerous game, and now it was clear I had to be ready to fight back.
The lilies in the bridal suite.
I didn’t get to bring them up with Reese. Without thinking, I turned on my heel and headed back toward the bridal suite. Each step amplified my frustration. I entered the suite, the familiar scent of the lilies hitting me.
My gaze flicked around the room.
The hairpin and the bracelet—they were gone.
I moved toward the couch, flipping the cushions up. Nothing. I opened drawers, sifting through the contents. Nothing but tissues, cotton pads, and thank-you notes. The neatness of the room was almost unsettling.
Frustration bubbled inside me. I crouched down and yanked at the edge of the plush rug, pulling it back. Nothing but polished wood. I tossed the rug back as I stared at the vase of lilies on the table. I stepped back and immediately lost my balance, my foot caught in the overturned rug. I reached for the table, but my elbow slammed against it instead.
Pain shot through my arm, and the vase teetered.
Shattering glass echoed through the room, and lilies scattered across the floor.
“Damn,” I muttered. I knelt down to collect the broken shards when I noticed something—something small and metallic nestled among the remains of the lilies. My heart thudded louder as I pulled out a lens with wires.
Wires?
I turned it over in my hand. It was a spy camera.