My stomach sinks. This must be Damien. He must have gotten a new phone or new number to contact me with.
Me: Leave me alone.
Damien: Not a chance.
Me: What do you want, Damien?
Damien: Just wondering if you’re enjoying everyone knowing that your marriage is a fucking sham.
Damien: Do you like that the whole world knows what a fraud you are?
Damien: Do you like how all it took was one “anonymous source” going to a random stupid fucking sports site to ruin your life?
Damien: Do you think that “source” is going to stop at just one website?
Damien: This all can stop, Ellie. All you have to do is pay me the money I asked for.
My blood runs cold as I put it all together. Damien was the one who told those awful lies about my and Camden’s marriage to the news.
But how did he find out that we got married for health insurance in the first place? I never told him that.
My head spins as I stare at my phone screen and try and figure out what to do.
“Are you okay?”
Camden’s soft voice pulls me out of my panicked thoughts. I shake my head and stand up, then lead him by the hand to the darkened hallway by the bathrooms. I show him the texts on my phone.
“Damien is the one who told the press about us—about us marrying for health insurance,” I say, hating how much my voice is shaking—hating how freaked out I am right now. “He’s the source in that initial story that broke. I-I don’t know how he found out though. I never told him.”
Camden’s gaze turns hard as he scans the texts. “That piece of shit,” he mutters.
He looks at me, then hugs me tight.
“I-I never thought he could do something like this,” I say, tears filling my eyes. “I didn’t think he could be this conniving, this cruel.”
“Hey. It’s okay,” he says softly, his lips against my forehead.
“What are we going to do? There’s no way I’m giving him money. But I don’t want him to keep threatening to spread lies about us to reporters.”
Frustration swirls through me like a tornado.
“I’m sick of everyone thinking terrible things about you and me because of his lies. I’m sick of sitting back and letting him think he has control over this situation…”
As soon as I say it, an idea hits. I let it formulate in my brain. It’s a little crazy…but I think it could work.
I lean back and look at Camden. “I have an idea.”
When I tell him, his eyes go wide. His jaw works, like he’s stressed and not quite sure what to think.
“It’s the only way to put a stop to this, Camden. We can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
He cups my face in his hands. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
I nod. “I’m done letting my ex push me around. I’m going to end him once and for all.”
The corner of Camden’s mouth hooks up in a small smile. “Okay. But you’re not doing this alone.”
Chapter 59
