RIVER

“YET YOU told me there was no evidence. When I asked you if he ever hurt you, your answer was no. Why the fuck did you have to lie to me?” His voice was harsh and thick with anger, but something flashed in his eyes that somehow surprised me—guilt. Why would he feel guilty about something I lied about?

Appalled, I wrapped my arms all over me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. He’d already seen the bruises, but it felt like I was protecting myself from deep scrutiny. “No one would ever believe me.”

“I would if only you were straight and honest from...