Chapter 13

Chad slowly ended the call. His eyes widened as the screen dimmed. Willow had probably seen right through the unspeakable thoughts he'd been hiding about Laurel long ago. "How could that be…" Chad muttered, fingers subconsciously drumming against his desk. He'd always treated Laurel like a younger sister, long since locking away any feelings that might've crossed the line. Unlocking his phone, he opened the encrypted file hidden deep inside a folder. The last edit glared at him from the screen. "March 15—Laurel came home today. She looks good in red. That man doesn't deserve her at all…" Chad's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. These words felt like a slap, reminding him of the lies he'd built up around himself. This file had recorded every forbidden thought he'd never dared say aloud since his teenage years. How Laurel looked the first time she put on a dress. The warmth he felt when she'd thrown herself into his arms when she got into college. Even his nauseating denial as