ouse in the Long Island suburbs. The place she had been "cared
a waiting ambush. They were all there, seated
im on the sofa, her eyes red-rimmed as if she'd been weeping for hours. Jayleen and Edd
eigning innocent confusion. "Wh
ee table. The sound cracked through the t
the hotel corridor, looking disheveled as she argued with Ayaan Carter. The angle wa
the work of a private in
st out, her voice thick with theatrical heartbreak. "We have been so g
pectant, judgmental faces. She felt no panic.
and walked to stand dir
ice calm. "Is there anyth
tness but quickly recovered. "I have nothing
d her gaze on her cousin. "Jayleen?
I don't know, Alyssa," she said, her voice dripping
ed to unnerve them all. She pulled out her phon
wo nights ago. Inside a car, under the sickly orange glow of a streetlamp, Eddie an
room fell d
ng a pasty, mottled white. Eddie froze, lo
r daughter to her future nephew-in-law,
but each word landed like a hammer blow. "Before I explain
tammered, sweat bead
on us!" Jayleen shrieked,
o be passing by and saw something I wish I hadn
nal war now would derail the entire plan. He slammed hi
Jayleen and Eddie, silenc
, it's my fault. I didn't raise Jayleen right. I will deal with this. But your e
it. Alyssa knew it. She let out a weary s
. But I think Eddie and I need
mpromise to avoid an immediate, irre
rs, leaving the chaos of their sh
he mask of weary compromise fell away, r
nto her laptop. On the screen, folders appeared, filled with more videos, more
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