Penelope's POV
The photo burns in my hand like it's laced with acid.
Andrew and Savannah on his balcony.
The way the camera caught them at that perfect angle, her head tilted and his face just close enough that it looks like a kiss.
I know he didn't kiss her.
I think I know.
But in this family, facts are optional and appearances are everything. And right now, this appearance could destroy me.
"You've got to be kidding me," I breathe, my voice sharp enough to cut glass.
Andrew's face hardens the second he sees it. "It's fake."
"It's perfectly staged, Andrew!" My voice raises without permission. "Whoever's sending these knows exactly what they're doing."
"It's Savannah," he says, no hesitation.
I laugh bitterly. "You think I need you to tell me that?"
He moves closer, like being close to me will fix this. "I didn't touch her, Penny. She showed up, she ran her mouth, and she left."
"And someone just happened to be ready with a camera?" I snap. "You can't tell me that's a coincidence."
"I'm telling you it's a setup." His tone is steel now. "But you've got to trust me."
The problem is I want to. I want to trust him so badly that my chest hurts.
But that picture… it's going to be all my family needs to crucify him.
And right on cue, my phone buzzes again.
This time, it's a message from Nick.
GET HOME NOW.
****
The second we walk into my parents' house, it's like stepping into a courtroom in the middle of a trial.
Mom's standing with her arms crossed, Dad's pacing, and Nick's got the balcony photo showing up on his tablet like he's presenting evidence to a jury.
"Unbelievable," Nick says, holding it up. "I told you he couldn't be trusted."
"Nick... " I start.
"No, Penny!" His voice cracks with rage. "This is my best friend. The guy I used to look up to. And he's playing you while sneaking around with her?"
"Don't," Andrew warns.
Nick ignores him. "You think I don't see it? You think I don't remember Savannah being his weakness? You think I didn't notice him going quiet when she walked into dinner?"
Andrew's fists clench. "You're talking out of your ass."
"I'm talking the truth," Nick fires back. "And if you were any kind of man, you'd walk away before you ruin her life more than you already have."
"Enough!" I yell, but it's like no one hears me.
Mom steps in like a general seizing control. "This is exactly what I warned you about, Penelope. He's reckless and dangerous. You've known him in this new… role for what? Weeks? Savannah knows him for years. She knows the real Andrew."
"I know the real Andrew," I shoot back.
Savannah's voice floats in from the hallway before I even realize she's here.
"Are you sure about that?"
****
Andrew's POV
The second I see her, tall, blonde, and smirking like she owns the damn house, my blood pressure spikes.
"You weren't invited," I bite out.
Savannah just shrugs. "Your girlfriend's family invited me. They said they needed answers, and I just happen to have them."
"Answers or poison?" I growl.
She tilts her head, fake-innocent. "Depends on who's drinking."
Nick looks between us like he's piecing together a puzzle he wants to believe. "So? You gonna explain the photo or what?"
"There's nothing to explain," I snap. "She showed up at my door. I told her to leave."
Savannah laughs lightly. "Told me to leave? That's cute. Is that before or after you let me stand two inches from your face and remind you of the old days?"
She says it like it's harmless but she knows exactly what she's doing.
She's painting pictures in their heads. The kind of pictures I can't erase.
"Don't," I warn her again, stepping forward.
She steps forward too, matching me inch for inch. The air between us turns sharp.
She lowers her voice just enough so Penny can't quite hear.
"You remember what it felt like," she says. "You can deny it all you want, but I can feel it every time you look at me. You were mine once, Drew. And I always get back what's mine."
I don't take the bait.
But I can feel Penny's eyes burning into my back.
****
Penelope's POV
I want to scream.
Not just at Savannah. I want to scream at all of them.
Savannah's tone is soft, her smile practiced, and her words just slippery enough to make it sound like she's telling truths.
And Andrew… he's just standing there, jaw tight, muscles tense.
"Are you going to say something to her?" I demand.
"I am," he says, eyes still locked on Savannah. "Get out."
Savannah's lips curve. "Or what? You'll throw me out? That wouldn't look very good in front of Penny's family, would it? Besides…" She glances at my mom, "they seem to like me here."
My stomach twists because mom doesn't deny it.
"Unreal," I whisper.
Andrew turns to me finally. "Penny"
"No. Don't Penny me. You let her stand that close to you, you let her talk like that, and you expect me to just... "
"She's trying to get between us."
"Well... It seems like she doesn't have to try very hard," I cut in, voice breaking.
There comes the heavy, suffocating silence.
Savannah's watching me like she's savoring every crack in my voice.
****
Andrew's POV
I want to drag Penny out of here, away from all of them, before they tear her apart.
But she's glaring at me like I'm part of the problem.
"I didn't touch her," I say again.
"Then why does it look like you did?" Nick demands.
"Because she staged it!" My voice is raw now. "She's been setting this up since she came here. She wants me back, and she'll burn every bridge in this house to get it."
Savannah doesn't even flinch. She just looks at Penny and says, "If you really believe that, sweetie, you're braver than I am."
That's it.
I move immediately.
I don't hit her. But I step close enough that she has to tilt her head back to meet my eyes.
"You think you're clever? But you're not. You're just desperate. And I'd rather burn than go back to you."
Her smile slips for half a second.
"We'll see," she whispers.
****
Penelope's POV
The fight explodes from there.
Nick's shouting at Andrew to get out.
Andrew's shouting back that he's not leaving without me.
Mom's trying to calm everyone while throwing in digs about "young love" and "blind trust."
Dad's muttering something about calling the cops if it doesn't stop.
And Savannah? Well, she just stands in the corner, sipping from a glass of wine she must have poured herself, watching the chaos like she's directing it.
I couldn't take it anymore as I finally snap.
"STOP!"
Everyone freezes.
I look right at Savannah.
"You can send all the photos you want. You can whisper in every ear in this house. You can even stand two inches from him and pretend you still matter. But you don't. Not to me. Not to him."
Savannah just smiles. "We'll see."
I turn to Andrew. "We're leaving."
He doesn't hesitate. He takes my hand and walk out of the door.
****
Andrew's POV
We make it halfway down the driveway before Penny pulls her hand away.
"I believe you," she says finally.
Relief hits me like a wave until she adds, "But if there's one more photo… one more message… I'll leave because I can't do this."
I nod. "There won't be."
But in my gut, I know Savannah's not done.
We get back to my car. I'm just about to open the door for her when my phone buzzes.
There's no name. Just a number I don't know.
I open it.
And my blood turns to ice.
It's a video.
A video of me and Savannah on my balcony.
From the same angle as the photo that was sent before but this time, it's moving.
In the video, Savannah leans in…
And it looks like I kiss her back.