Chapter 2

Iris's POV

That was Liam's thing—dangling just enough to keep me hooked, keep me giving him everything.

I deleted the messages. Couldn't delete the memories though.

Two weeks ago, after Gen found out about Yale, she locked me in my room. Took my car keys, my credit cards, sent the staff home.

Late that night, someone knocked on my window.

Liam climbed up the ivy and tumbled through, grinning.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, heart pounding. "If Gen catches you—"

"Don't care." He grabbed my wrist. "Heard your sister locked you up. You think I was just gonna let that slide?"

He saw the bandage on my temple. Frowned immediately. "You're hurt?"

"It's nothing—" My voice broke. "Gen said I'm crazy for giving up Yale. Liam, I've never seen her that mad. She said—"

Liam leaned in and kissed the bandage before I could finish.

My heart stopped.

"Don't worry." His voice dropped low, fingers tracing circles on my hand. "I've got you."

"But—"

"Shh." He pressed his finger to my lips, eyes all soft. "We're going to State together, right? Just us. Nobody telling us what to do."

His fingertip kept drawing patterns on my palm as he said it.

My heart raced. All the doubts Gen planted? Gone. In that moment, I was sure again.

I thought it was love. Now I know—it was manipulation.

Next afternoon, after barely sleeping, the doorbell woke me up.

I dragged myself to the door and opened it.

Liam stood there. With Emily.

"Iris!" His smile was blinding. "There you are! Why weren't you texting me back?"

I stared at Emily. Plain T-shirt, jeans, standing behind Liam like some kicked puppy.

"What's—"

"Oh yeah, almost forgot." Liam shrugged like it was nothing. "Prom's coming up. Emily needs to borrow a dress. Figured you've got like a million, so I brought her over."

Before I could say anything, Emily's eyes got all watery.

"Iris, I know you don't like me, but... please... don't say no."

Her voice cracked. "I just want one nice dress. Just once. Please..."

When I didn't answer right away, Liam's face changed.

"Iris, it's ONE dress. Seriously?"

I just stared.

"You've got a closet full of them—what's the big deal?" He kept going. "Emily's family can barely make rent. She can't afford a prom dress. Can't you just be cool about this?"

Emily sobbed and tugged his sleeve. "Forget it, Liam. Let's go. I shouldn't have come..."

"Hey, don't say that." Liam hugged her, then looked at me like I'd kicked a puppy. "Iris, I really thought you were better than this. I always told people you were kind and generous."

I stood there watching their little show, and suddenly I wanted to laugh.

"You're right." I finally spoke. "I DO have a lot of dresses."

Emily perked up.

"But." I met Liam's eyes. "They're MINE. Why would I lend them to some random girl?"

Liam's face went dark. "Iris—"

"Also." I cut him off. "Didn't Emily have that new Prada bag last month? The three-thousand-dollar one? If she can swing that, how's she broke for a dress?"

Emily went white. Liam touched his nose—his tell when he's caught.

"That—that was from a friend..." she stammered.

A friend? Right. I knew that bag. Liam bought it with MY card. What kind of "friend"?

"Oh yeah?" I smiled. "Then borrow a dress from that friend too. Why bother me?"

"Iris!" Liam stepped in front of Emily. "You know what? Forget it. We'll BUY one. It's not like we can't afford it."

He grabbed Emily's hand and stormed off. Her crying faded down the hallway.

I closed the door. Leaned against it. Breathed.

Then pulled out my phone and called the bank.

"I need to freeze all my secondary cards. Right now."

As a bastard kid, Liam never got much from the Rockefellers. His allowance was a joke compared to other rich kids. So for years, I'd been paying for everything. His phone, laptop, clothes, car—I thought I was helping him. Really? I was funding his side piece.

Without my cards, let's see what he buys her now.

After hanging up, I walked to the window. My hand went to the necklace I was wearing.

Simple platinum chain. Small sapphire. It caught the light, cold and blue.

Three years ago, when HE gave this to me, he'd grabbed my arm so tight it bruised.

"Iris Vanderbilt, you're really gonna date my loser stepbrother? You're gonna crash and burn."

"Don't come crying to me when you do."

I'd screamed at him then. Called him arrogant. Insufferable. A complete asshole.

Now? Every word he said was right.