"I'm sure she just tripped," Lionel added. "Probably stumbled and turned it into a story."
Lauren's breath hitched.*This is it,* she thought.
Her father had just handed her the perfect setup to turn the story against Heather—again. And she wasn't about to waste it.
Especially not in front of the Thorne family. Not when she'd spent years shaping herself into the kind of woman they'd want for their son.
"I didn't do anything wrong," she said aloud, her voice trembling just enough to sound believable. "Do you want the truth?" She looked slowly around the room, pausing as if struggling to find the strength. "Fine. I'll tell you."
She reached for the napkin in her lap, lightly pressing it under her eye. It drew attention to a single tear that had formed—probably forced, but real enough under the right lighting.
Heather watched her. Was Lauren actually going to tell the truth?
Probably not.
Lauren had never done anything that would damage her own image.
