Page 51 of Paparazzi Perfect
It stung.
“Ivy, please… it’s not what it looks like,” I told her desperately. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat.
She pivoted sharply and started toward the track.
“Please, I can explain!” I called out. “Can we just talk? After that, if you never want to see me again, I swear you won’t,” I promised, not knowing if I could keep that promise.
She stopped. Silent. Her back to me.
The sound of the crashing waves and the wind filled the void. “There are things you don’t know, Ivy. Things aren’t what they seem.”
With bitterness, she chuckled, then started for the track again.
“Ivy,please, I’m begging you, I don’t have long. This is the only chance I have to explain,” I said raggedly, my chest tightening as adrenaline pumped through my veins.
She turned. Hands on hips. Glaring at me.
“You deserve to know the truth, Ivy.”
“Two minutes.” She folded her arms across her chest. “You’ve got two minutes, and you had better not lie to me again.” Her voice quivered, but her feet were rooted to the spot, holding her ground.
“I won’t lie.” I held my hand against my heart and drew in a long breath in readiness. “You’ll get the whole truth.”
“I thought we had something special. Did it meananythingto you?” She raised her voice. “Anything at all? Or was it all lies? Was I just your toy until you got back toBella?”
My heart felt like it ripped apart, scattering in the wind that whipped around us.
This is what she thinks of me, thanks to my father and his sick games.
“Yes, that’s right,” she told me, her tone controlled. “I saw all the photos of you and her together. The prince and princess. Isn’t that what they call you? Howsweet.I guess you just forgot to mention her. Right?”
“Ivy, believe me, those stupid pictures arenotwhat they seemed. It’s all twisted around, I swear.” I dragged a hand through my hair, trying to figure out where to start.
“Sure. It’s just one big misunderstanding, huh? Is that it?” She glared at me in contempt. “Poor Karson, so misunderstood.”
“I fully understand that you hate me, but I need to start from the beginning, or this won’t make any sense.” I sat down cross-legged, hoping she’d follow.
With a skeptical look at me, she took a step away but sat. “Ninety seconds left,” she said impatiently.
“The time we spent together was the happiesttime of my life. And I had no idea my father would summon me like that.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I told him I was going to college in Brisbane to be near you, but he forbade it. He made unspeakable threats.”
“What threats? Did he say he’d take away your fancy car?” she said in a saccharine tone. “Or that you couldn’t have your skiing holidays in Switzerland?” Her voice cut through me like a blade. “Is that it?”
“Yes, he took allthataway. But I couldn’t care less about those things. He called in his attack dogs and had them revoke my offer to study in Brisbane. So I told him I wouldn’t bother with uni.”
We sat looking out over the breaking waves in silence. For a moment, it was like it had all been a nightmare. Like I’d never left her side.
“It’s not enough,” she snapped. “You could have left anytime.”
“Ivy, that’s only part of the story. He froze my bank accounts and took away everything. But even if I were completely broke, I’d still choose you.”
“Then whydidn’tyou? That’s all I wanted. You know it’s not about the money for me. We could’ve worked it out. Together. Everything would have fallen into place.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears as she drew in a long breath.
“But that message you left me, and the photos of you with your nepo-baby girlfriend. Well, you made it clear what matters to you.”
“She’s not my girlfriend. I don’t know how to say this, other than… my father’s a fucking monster who will do whatever it takes to get exactly what he wants.”
