CASEY
I turn towards my mother, voice flat now. "Give me the money. That card you've been trying to shove into my hands for months? Give it to me now. Maybe I'll disappear. Find some quiet island, somewhere no one knows my name. Just... stay there."
She exhales shakily and sinks down beside me. Her hand finds mine, warm and grounding. And I already know, whatever she's about to say, I won't be able to fight her on it.
"Casey," she says gently, like she's walking across thin ice. "Listen to me, okay? Remember the scandal? Remember everything we talked about last night?"
I nod faintly.
"The Monroes and us....we're okay. Sebastian and Cesar? They're okay. But....the world is watching. They already released a statement, and not everyone's buying it. It's shaky, fragile."
I try to look away, but she squeezes my hand tighter.