I had spent my night thinking about how I was going to play my card. I wanted to take control now, even though Jessica was blackmailing me. Now I realized I’d been too weak. It’s time to grow up.

That morning I was in a particularly good mood; even James could see the energy radiating from me. Yeah, I was supposed to be in panic but I had it all figured out. The moment James shut the door behind him, silence settled across the house like a held breath. I sat on the couch with my phone in my hand, staring at Jessica’s last message. Her threat woke something in...