18. Laurene
CHAPTER 18
Laurene
TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING…
“Isn’t this just heavenly?” Noelle murmured beside me as the masseuse worked on her shoulders.
The tension in my shoulders had nothing to do with the day. It was Reese.
I’d only wanted my inheritance, but instead I felt something new and undeniable. And now, he was asking me to dismantle everything I’d been prioritizing, all with three simple words.
I love you.
“Laurene?” Noelle’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“Hmm?” I managed, lifting my head up from the massage table.
My chest ached with…something. Maybe it wasn’t love, maybe it’s just caring, or maybe I never stopped loving him. Duty, legacy, perfection. That was the King family mantra. Love was a luxury for other people.
But Reese had always been the exception.
I couldn’t afford feelings, though. Feelings got in the way. They distracted you, made you vulnerable. Vulnerability could kill you. For fuck’s sake, someone was taunting us.
But I was changing. I was letting myself feel all over again.
I didn’t think I was that na?ve Laurene anymore. Who used to believe she could be the exception, change our past, and end up with Reese happily ever after.
And now, he’d gone and said it.
Damn him. Damn me for the way my heart leaped at his words.
It brought up things I wasn’t ready to deal with. Like how opening the gallery wouldn’t mean a damn thing if he wasn’t there to see it now. He was in my dreams almost daily. Or how no amount of money could make up for the way his touch made me feel so safe and secure.
It was the way he made me laugh when I was on the verge of breaking. The way he worked with me, alongside me, piecing together this mess we were tangled in; he carried some of the weight for me without me even asking.
Reese had always gotten under my skin, into my heart, whether I wanted him there or not.
I remembered the first time I realized I loved him—really loved him. Not some silly crush, not just lust, but real, deep love that lodged itself into your bones. We had snuck away to LA, and he took me to a gallery opening for my favorite artist.
His fingers had traced lazy circles on my wrist, his voice teasing, coaxing, making me laugh so hard I forgot to guard myself. He stayed by my side all night; then, I saw us in the mirror. We looked like a real couple. Comfortable, at ease. I wasn’t worried about my image, or presentability politics.
He looked at me and it had hit me all at once—like a crash, like a fall.
And now…now he was doing it again.
I felt it all.
Even if I wouldn’t admit it.
Even if I knew better.
I put my finger to my lips, hoping to squash that thought. Reese didn’t fit in with my carefully planned life. But the truth was, I didn’t want to survive anymore.
I wanted to live .
And that terrified me.
For so long, I had convinced myself that my purpose was to rise above—to be untouchable, undeniable, untamed by anything that could hurt me. I had mapped out every move, every play, determined to build a life so grand, so opulent, that no one—not Mama, not this town, not Reese—could ever touch it.
And I loved it. The glitz, the glamour, the power of walking into a room and knowing I belonged there. The way diamonds looked against my skin.
Reese unraveled parts of me I thought I’d buried, and I realized—maybe for the first time—that I wanted something else too.
Something deeper. Something real. Something that had nothing to do with revenge or proving a point.
It meant trusting someone with the parts of me I’d hidden for so long, the parts that felt too fragile to expose. It meant loving Reese—and letting him love me back.
With a sigh, I sat up.
Noelle looked over at me. “You okay?”
“I can’t relax,” I admitted, watching the candles flicker.
“One moment, please,” Noelle requested to the masseuses. Once we were alone, she turned, eyes sharp. “This isn’t about the wedding, is it?”
It was dangerous. Because loving him, trusting him again, meant taking the kind of risk I swore I’d never take again. I’d lost last time to Mama.
“No. It’s… What did you find on the camera?”
She sat up, clutching the blanket.
“It wasn’t just some cheap, throwaway device,” she said, her voice low. “This thing was custom.”
“And?” I cleared my throat.
“I reviewed the footage. Most of it’s pretty uneventful—staff coming and going. Nothing that stands out.” She paused. “But the camera’s footage goes back three days. ”
I sat up fully now. “You’re saying someone knew I’d be in that suite three days before I got there?”
“Did anyone else know you were coming?”
The soft hum of the massage table’s heating element filled the room. Someone had been watching, listening, before I even set foot in that place.
Who the fuck were we dealing with?
“The footage isn’t clear,” she said. “I did get a glimpse of somebody, but they weren’t there long.”
I’d gone through the engagement party’s guest list a hundred times. Every name was crossed off except for a few that I couldn’t track down. Too many unknowns. Too many gaps. My chest tightened with frustration.
“I saw a silver bracelet. Maybe Cartier?”
Finally, we knew something. A bracelet. My mind raced, sorting through every person in town with Cartier. That didn’t narrow it down by much. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was more than we’d had before.
Someone had been watching, waiting, and now they were steps ahead.
“You’re sure it wasn’t Jennie?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
Noelle tilted her head, considering. “Why would she do that? Jennie would’ve gotten caught with her pregnant belly. And what motive does she have? This was careful.”
Careful. My stomach twisted. She always had jewelry on but I could be biased.
Blair.
“Blair fits,” I muttered.
“Blair fits too well,” Noelle countered gently. She adjusted her towel. “She’s an obvious suspect, but don’t you think that makes it…convenient? Men can wear Cartier too.”
“Convenient or not, she has motive,” I shot back. “She told Reese about me kissing Conrad. She’s already tried to sabotage me once. Why not keep going? ”
“She told Reese?” Noelle’s eyes widened.
I snorted bitterly, my anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “How did she even find out? I thought she left earlier. Unless someone else saw us and told her. Which means someone else in this town hates me. It seems like we can’t get the suspect list down at all.”
Noelle’s mouth parted slightly, and she sighed. “I have to tell you something.”
I looked at her expectantly, and she looked down at the ground.
“Blair found out because I told her.”
“You did what?” My voice was sharp, disbelief curling around each word.
Noelle winced. “I was drunk. I was blabbing. I didn’t mean to.” Her hands twisted together in front of her. “I wish I could take it back. I swear I do.”
She met my eyes then, her own wide, pleading.
“Laurene, I’m so, so sorry.”
My stomach twisted. A hot, nauseating rush of emotions churned inside me—betrayal, anger, embarrassment. Noelle? Of all people?
I swallowed. “I can’t believe you would do this.”
I let out a long breath, hoping to get rid of the betrayal. But it clung to me. She was supposed to be my friend. My safe place. The one person I thought I could trust.
“You’re my best friend.”
“I know. And I hate that I hurt you.” Her voice was thick, pleading. “But I wasn’t trying to be malicious, Laur. I was drunk, and I wasn’t thinking, and before I knew it, it just—” She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “I wish I could take it back. I would in a second. I didn’t say anything but I was afraid, but it was stupid of me.”
I pressed my lips together, my fingers digging into my arms. I wanted to hold on to my anger, but hadn’t I done that by not telling Reese I kissed Conrad ?
Noelle was my best friend. And despite everything, I believed her.
“We don’t have time for this.” My voice was quieter now, controlled. “Let’s just… Let’s move on. It’s okay.”
Noelle blinked, thrown by the shift, but she nodded quickly. It was awkward for a few moments, then she spoke.
“You need to tell Erik then.”
My stomach twisted at the thought. “No. Absolutely not.”
Erik would go crazy. He’d instantly switch to protective mode without hesitation, and that anger, that strong urge to defend me, was exactly what I was worried about. It could get him hurt.
“Laurie—”
“I said no.”
She shook her head, disbelief flickering across her face. “Laurene, do you hear yourself? If they’re planting bugs? Assaulting you? What’s next, bombs? You need protection.”
I winced at the word. Protection . I wouldn’t let it get that far. Reese wouldn’t either.
Noelle sighed, her voice soft but firm. “I hate to say it, but you need someone with power—someone like your mom. Someone who can actually handle this quietly and won’t run their mouth.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but the words didn’t come. No one came to mind, not at first. But then, it hit me.
I’d seen him with Blair. And shit, he’d wanted to meet when I came home. Reese told me he asked about me. All signs were pointing toward him.
“You thought of someone, didn’t you?”
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
I inhaled. “Mayor Castillo.”
“Dante? Are you sure about that?” Noelle’s lips parted, her eyes widening in recognition.
Was I? Not entirely. But I didn’t need certainty to make it work. Mama had let him keep his seat for a reason, and if he was tangled up with Blair somehow, that gave me leverage—leverage I could twist in my favor. Whether he liked it or not.
“We saw him with Blair. He already wants to ‘talk business’ with me. If she’s mixed up in this, keeping him close makes sense. And the enemy of my enemy…”
Noelle arched a brow. “Is a friend?”
“Exactly,” I said, a cold smile curling my lips.
“You’d really use that? Blackmail the mayor? Laurene, that’s”—Noelle hesitated, searching my face—“bold.”
“If I have to, I will.” My voice was flat, matter-of-fact.
Noelle stared at me like she didn’t recognize the person sitting across from her.
“You’ve changed,” she murmured. “You could be making another enemy.”
“I’ll make sure I’m not wrong, and Blair gets put down.”
The door swung open.
“I need this every day…” Gigi strolled in with a small entourage of staff behind her draped in a plush robe.
“I’m glad someone is enjoying this day,” I said, watching as she tossed her new red hair over her shoulder and plopped into the chair across from us. Cucumber slices were immediately placed on her eyes, and within moments, one person was massaging her feet, another working her shoulders.
Gigi leaned forward, the cucumbers slipping slightly. “What’s wrong, boo? Reese? Is he acting up? Don’t tell me I gotta choke up my new best friend already.”
I didn’t even wanna know what was going on there. “Yeah, it’s just the wedding stress. You know how it is.”
“Speaking of stress, have you talked to Serena? I thought she’d join us. Or are y’all still fighting?” Noelle said.
The mention of Serena twisted something in my gut. I missed my sister, but when she got like this, it was no use.
“I invited her,” Gigi admitted. “Against my better judgment. I thought she would pull her head out of her ass and come. But I see the evil heifer chose the dark side.”
“She must’ve decided she wasn’t ready,” I said evenly, keeping my tone measured. “And we can’t really be mad at her for that.”
“Serena is just an asshole.” Gigi lifted a cucumber and bit into it. “You said nothing wrong. She just mad ’cause it’s true.”
“Gigi,” I said.
“Ain’t nobody gonna beg her to talk to us,” Gigi said. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I do that, and if you do, Lu, Imma punch you in the throat.”
Noelle glanced between us. “You don’t think she’ll come to the wedding?”
“She’ll be there, otherwise Mama will be on her ass like white on rice, and Lord, let’s not upset Mama,” Gigi huffed.
Jennie, Pauline, and Nina walked in, all smiles, chatting away.
“Hey, Laurene, I was just thinking about the wedding presents!” Jennie said with a bright, cheerful voice. She gently settled onto the comfy chaise longue, one hand resting on her baby bump. “Should we set up a registry at that home store downtown?”
Pauline clapped her hands together. “Oh, that place has everything! We can make it a fun day to browse. Nina, call the store. Have them shut it down for us for a day next week.”
“Yes, Mrs. Ashbourne,” Nina said.
I forced a smile. Home décor was the least of my worries. Spa staff entered, carrying a large garment bag and a small ornate box.
“We have a surprise for you,” Jennie said. “Your mom sent a gift.”
I was curious, but the moment they unzipped the garment bag, my stomach knotted. Fabric tumbled out, and as the bag fell away, there it was— the dress .
“Oh my God. ”
It was a dress that belonged to a different life of mine. A different me. The same wedding dress I was supposed to wear to marry Conrad. Every eye in the room was on me, waiting for my reaction, but I was frozen.
“What…what is this?” I finally managed.
Pauline looked from me to the dress. “We thought you might want to try it on again. For old time’s sake, plus it saves us time.”
It wasn’t just a dress. It was a message, a sharp reminder of the life Mama expected me to live—to do what she wanted.
“Are you serious?” I snapped. “Why would I want to do that?”
“Because it’s beautiful!” Jennie insisted, clearly trying to be kind. “I mean, you never got the chance to wear it before, and…well, it’s just such a gorgeous dress. You deserve to have that moment.”
“It’s not just a dress,” I said, slowly standing. “It’s…” It carried pain, a reminder of a life filled with broken promises and forced decisions. “I—no,” I choked out, I staggered back, nearly tripping over my own feet. “I can’t…I can’t wear that.”
“You need to calm down, honey,” Pauline said. “It’s just a dress.”
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t do this today, again —not in front of them. “Excuse me.”
“Laurene, wait—” Jennie began, but I was already turning toward the rack of plush robes, reaching for one and slipping it over my shoulders.
“Lu!” Gigi and Noelle called my name.
I hurried down the quiet hall, my footsteps echoing sharply in the stillness. I turned a few corners when I finally reached the sauna. Pushing open the door, I stepped inside, the thick heat wrapping around me instantly.
The only sound inside was the gentle hiss of steam as I sat on one of the warm wooden benches, letting my head fall back.
The door of the sauna opened .
“Blair,” I said flatly, not even bothering to hide my surprise. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Surprised to see me?” Blair asked, a smirk tugging at her lips.
“Actually, no. You always show up like a damn cockroach.”
“I’m here for the sauna, queenie. It’s the best in town.” She shrugged, settling on the bench across from me. “You look like hell. Rough day?”
“I saw you with Harold.”
Her expression faltered for just a second, shock flashing before she buried it under that fake-ass indifference. “What?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, I don’t have the patience.” I leaned back, staring her down, my voice low and cold. “You don’t have any shame, do you?”
Her laughter bounced around the sauna. “Shame? Me? I think you’ve confused me with yourself. Fucking two brothers? Shame on you.”
I opened then closed my mouth before a smile curled on my lips. “No, but I do have the guy you always wanted but could never get.”
Blair’s eyes widened.
“I know Reese doesn’t know about you and Harold yet, or you wouldn’t be breathing.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Laurene.” Her voice was steady, but there was something sharp in her tone. “Maybe you should stick to your own mess before you start worrying about mine.”
She stood up, adjusting her towel.
“I also saw you with Dante down by the boutiques.”
Blair snarled at me. “What are you trying to imply?”
I leaned forward. “You know damn well what I’m implying. You’re getting cozy with the mayor, just like you got cozy with Harold. How’s that working for you? It must be nice to have all those powerful men wrapped around your finger. ”
Blair opened her mouth, but I didn’t give her a chance to speak.
“Tell me, Blair, do you ever stop and think about the damage you’re doing?” I couldn’t hold back the smirk. “I should slap the shit out of you for telling Reese about Conrad. But I think I’d rather see you squirm.”
Blair’s face turned a shade paler, but she quickly recovered, throwing me a cold look. “You’re making a lot of accusations. None of them are true.”
“Are you Harold’s sugar baby? Dante your pimp? Your daddy low on money? Tell me when to stop listing reasons.”
“You’re out of your mind, Laurene. Harold and I are business associates. And as for Dante, we’re friends. Nothing more.”
“Is that so?” I said. “Funny how that ‘friendship’ seemed to look a little…personal.”
She stepped closer to me. “You don’t even deserve Reese. How do you just get him because you’re a King ? You have no idea how to love him.” Blair narrowed her gaze at me. “Everybody talked about you when you were gone. They all said they’d never met someone so hollow, so cheap and desperate. This town hates you and your family. You fucking bi?—”
I felt something snap inside me.
My hand moved before I could stop it. The crack of my palm against her cheek rang through the sauna. Her head whipped to the side, her red hair fanning out, and for a split second, the venom drained from her face, replaced by pure, stunned shock.
“You think you can talk to me like that?” I said. “Let me remind you who the fuck you’re dealing with, Blair. My family built this town while yours was still struggling to wipe their asses. I don’t need to prove a damn thing to anyone, especially not you.”
Her eyes narrowed, and I leaned in, letting each word sink in deep, making sure she understood how much she fucked up.
“And Reese? He’s mine . No matter how much you want it, cry about it, or pray for him. He’s coming home to me. Every single night. Now and forever. And yes, because I’m a King , I get whatever the hell I want. And I get him.”
I paused, savoring the power shift between us.
“You know, he doesn’t just kiss me— he devours me . He always did. The way he holds me, like he can’t get close enough. That rough, almost desperate way he takes his time, like he’s trying to memorize the taste of my lips, the scent of my skin. And when he starts kissing right on my neck—he’ll nibble there. That’s where he loves to leave a mark.”
Blair’s eyes darkened.
“And as for what you told him about me and Conrad? You knew damn well it would hurt him. But don’t you worry about it at all. Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to make sure your little affair with Harold comes to light. That’s the least of it, though. The King family’s untouchable, but you? You’ve got no real friends, no allies.”
I wanted this to hurt her. I wanted her to cry.
“I’m going to ruin you in front of everyone you care about. Your mom won’t get another society invitation. Your dad won’t be able to get fucking bus money. And when I’m done, when everyone sees you for the cheap, desperate bitch that you are, I’ll make sure you’ll never get close to someone like Reese again.”
Blair shot me a final, disdainful look before striding out, leaving me alone.
I sat back down, my heart still beating from the exhilaration of defeating Blair. I closed my eyes and relaxed for a few more minutes.
A bang hit the sauna door.
My heart leaped into my throat. I exhaled sharply. A figure loomed on the other side of the glass door, indistinct in the fog.
“Hello? Is someone there?”
I waited for a few seconds, the silence stretching uncomfortably. My chest tightened as the scent of cedar, once calming, now seemed too strong, filling my lungs with every inhale.
I waited .
Seconds stretched like hours.
Nothing.
Suddenly, the lights flickered.
I froze, eyes darting to the ceiling. The light sputtered, casting quick flashes of shadow across the sauna.
The soft hum of the lights buzzed in my ears. Then with a final flicker, the lights went out.
Total darkness.
The steam grew heavier, swirling thicker, drowning me in the inky black. It had to be temporary. Just a malfunction.
When the lights didn’t turn on right away, I stood up fast, trying not to panic. A weak hallway light glowed through the tiny sauna window. I could barely see through the fog, but I made it to the door.
My hand reached for the wood handle, slick beneath my fingers. I pressed against it, gently at first. Then harder.
Nothing.
I pushed again. The door wouldn’t move.
No.
No, no, no.
A wave of panic surged through me. My hands trembled as I tried again, harder this time. The steam was thickening with each second, making the room feel smaller, tighter. Was it getting hotter? My vision blurred as droplets slid into my eyes.
“Hello! Can anyone hear me?” I shouted, the slick sheen of sweat sticking to every inch of me.
I shoved my shoulder against the door. The door groaned and creaked, but wouldn’t budge.
Stepping back, I turned to the small window. Maybe I could see outside, get someone’s attention. I wiped the glass with the back of my hand, but the steam clung stubbornly. Finally, the glass cleared and I could see in the mirror’s reflection across the hall something had been placed on the door. A sign taped to the door that read “Out of Order.”
Holy shit .
I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, desperately scanning the area for any sign of life. The hallway was empty.
“I’m locked in here!”
My mind raced. I couldn’t just stand here. The door wouldn’t open, and yelling for help would do no good if no one was around to hear me. I needed to think.
There had to be another way out.
I pounded my fist against the wood. The sweat dripped down my temples, and my breath quickened, growing shallow. But then I felt it—a ripple of heat, sharper than before. It was getting hotter. The sauna was becoming a hot box, and I was trapped inside.
“Someone! Please!”
The idea of passing out, of succumbing to the heat, clawed at my mind. Get it together, Laurene.
I stepped back, taking stock of my surroundings. There had to be another way out.
I looked around for anything that could help me—something to climb, something to break the door down. There. A small vent high up on the wall.
I needed to climb. I took a step back, my heart racing. The heat was stifling, but I steeled myself and ran at the wall, using all my weight to jump up. I barely grazed the edge of the vent with my fingertips.
I took a breath, wiped my sweaty palms on my towel, and tried again. This time, I focused on using my legs more. I launched myself up, fingers grasping for the edge of the vent.
Praying it would come loose, with a grunt, I yanked. The cover rattled, but held firm.
I drew in a sharp breath, summoning every ounce of strength left in me. I pulled again, the metal groaning in protest. Finally, with one last desperate tug, the vent cover broke free, crashing to the floor with a loud clang .
The opening was small—too small. I couldn’t crawl out .
What if there was no way out?
Hell no. I didn’t come back from halfway across the world to die in a sauna.
Picking up the metal cover, I ignored the pain from the heat on my fingers, and I turned to the glass window.
I swung the metal cover at the glass. A thud sounded, but cracks formed on the glass. I didn’t stop to think. I swung again.
Crack!
The window broke open, sending shards cascading to the floor.
“Please, someone help me!” My heart raced as I pressed my face against the jagged edge, trying not to cut myself, but to see in the hall. “Help! Someone! Please!”
Then I heard it—a soft humming, melodic and eerily cheerful.
Where was everyone?
I caught a fleeting glimpse of movement from the corner of my eye near the fall—a shadow flitting, but I couldn’t turn my head to see clearly. Suddenly, I heard rushed footsteps approaching. Nina’s eyes widened at the sight of me.
“Laurene! Oh my God!”
“I’m trapped!” I rasped, my voice cracking. “I can’t get out!”
“Hang on! I’ll get you out!”
The heat bore down on me, oppressive and stifling. I felt light-headed, my breath quickening as I leaned against the door. “Hurry! Get me outta here.”
To my surprise, the door swung open with little effort, almost as if it had been waiting for her.
“Are you okay?”
“What the—” I stammered, confusion flooding my senses. “I—I couldn’t get the door open. It was locked, it was…”
“Just breathe,” Nina said. “You’re okay now. Pauline and the others were worried about you.”
Noelle was right. This whole situation was spiraling, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched, manipulated. Someone had locked me in that sauna.
I wasn’t crazy.