Juliette blanched. “What are you talking about?”

“Foley beat Anna and her sister all of their lives. He hit Justin. And you couldn’t pause your downward spiral of hate long enough to let me tell you that’s what we were up against. You didn’t even bother to ask if Justin and Lyla wanted to go live with their grandparents. They don’t because they don’t like getting smacked around.”

Juliette’s gaze darted from me to Anna and back again. “You’re wrong. She’s lying. I met with the Foleys and their lawyer. They’re kind people.”

“They’re manipulative,” Anna cut in. “My father would go to church Sunday morning and lock me in a closet Sunday afternoon.”

Heat hit Juliette’s cheeks. “I don’t believe you.”

Anna’s gaze hardened. “Would you believe Justin if he told you that his grandfather punched him so hard it knocked the wind out of him just because he didn’t want to play peewee football?”

“Y-you probably coached him to say that. It’s a better sob story for my brother.”

“Enough,” I barked. “Jules, I love you, but I am done. I won’t have a relationship with you unless you can learn to stop.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Mase. You can’t mean that.”

“I never thought I’d have to do this. It kills me that you can’t see the truth. But I won’t let you poison the life I’m building. And that’s what you’re doing. When you come to your senses, I’ll be there.”

Juliette’s gaze snapped to Anna. “This is because of you.”

“No,” I cut in. “It’s me. Anna told me to go easy on you, but I’ve been doing that for far too long. Now, we’re done.”

But I was afraid I was too late. Lessons Juliette should’ve learned a long time ago might be out of her reach now.

35

ANNA

I was quiet on the ride back to the house. The scene with Juliette replayed over and over in my mind. I knew what it was like to lose a sister. I’d lost Chelsea for years after my sentencing. And now, I’d lost her forever.

Heat flared in my chest, a burning pain. I didn’t want that for Mason. Especially not because of me. He didn’t see it now, but that kind of thing would destroy us. He would slowly come to blame me for it.