Page 46 of Tempting Devil

A part of me wished I had.

But I had a feeling the truth would have come out eventually, regardless of Gideon’s constant manipulation.

It was ironic now that I thought about everything.

I fought with Liam because he was suspicious of Gideon. Convinced myself all of Liam’s outrageous claims were just because he was trying to manipulate me again. All along, the only person manipulating me was Gideon.

“Imogene, sweetie. Is that you?” Mom called out from the kitchen, pulling me out of my mounting confusion.

I took another deep inhale, doing my best to remain strong. To act as if my entire world hadn’t just been flipped upside down. Then I pushed off the wall and made my way toward the kitchen, plastering a smile on my face as I walked into my mom’s outstretched arms.

“Hey, Mom.”

“How was your night?”

“Good.” It wasn’t a total lie. My night was good. Mind blowing.

It was this morning that was anything but.

She pulled out of the hug, holding me at arm’s length. “So you patched things up with Gideon, then?”

“It would appear so.”

She looped an arm through mine, dragging me toward the island. “Did you know he’d be in town, or did he come all this way just to make things right?”

I parted my lips, but I was no longer sure of the truth. He claimed he was here on business and it was just a coincidence I was also here. Now I couldn’t help but wonder if that was the truth or if he’d followed me out here.

It was yet another question to add to my list.

“I was certainly surprised to see him,” I answered, hoping she’d leave it at that.

I should have known better.

“So tell me.” She hoisted herself onto one of the barstools, patting the one beside it for me. “What did he say? What did you say?”

“I… I’m just really tired,” I said, a wave of exhaustion washing over me from having to keep up the façade. “I’m going to go lie down for a few hours, if you don’t mind.”

She straightened, studying me with a furrowed brow. “Sure. Of course.”

“Thanks.” I gave her a half-hearted smile, then started out of the kitchen.

“Are you sure everything’s okay?” she called after me, and I paused in my tracks.

How was I supposed to answer that? Nothing was okay.

I wasn’t sure anything ever would be again.

“Just…tired.”

“Okay,” she drew out.

But I could feel her skepticism from across the room. After everything we endured together, she could pick up on my moods. Knew when I wasn’t being completely honest.

What could I tell her, though?

No, Mom. I’m not okay. Not after learning that Gideon really is Samuel. That he never died. That he’s been alive all this time, enduring god knows what, and now is out for revenge against the people who hurt him, whoever they may be.

Just the idea of admitting that twisted me up, causing the hurt from all the lies to fester even more, threatening to destroy me from the inside out.