“Wait. Back up. What are you talking about?”
Meghan lowered her hands. Her eyes were bloodshot and she looked miserable. “It was Kyle. He’s the one who told the media everything. I could just throttle him!”
Meghan’s ex-husband? Chloe’s head was spinning. “How is that even possible? And why would he—?”
“When we were married I told him about your family’s history. I didn’t think any harm could come of it. And I forgot that I’d even told him until last night. He called me about a pair of heirloom earrings he’d given me—he wanted them back. I couldn’t find them and then he accused me of lying about it, and one thing led to another and then we were yelling at each other. That’s when he told me what he’d done.”
“He admitted it?”
“More like taunted me with it. I’m so sorry, Chloe. He actually sold the information toTMZand thenPeoplepicked it up from there.”
“How’d he even know how to do that?”
“I wondered the same thing. There’s a contact form online. I guess any old idiot can pass along celebrity gossip—if the price is right.”
Chloe’s breath froze in her lungs. If Kyle told the tabloids about her family, that meant...
“So Liam isn’t the one who betrayed you. Kyle is.”
Liam didn’t do it.
She closed her eyes against the sting of tears. What had she done? She’d accused him of spilling the beans about her family. She hadn’t even given him a chance to refute the accusation.
Oh, this was terrible! She palmed her forehead.
“I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I’ll call Liam and explain what happened. I’ll make this up to you.”
If only that would fix the problem. “That’s not your place. And he’s not gonna care after I treated him like that. I’m the one who jumped to conclusions. How could I have been so stupid?” She gave her head a shake. “Wait a minute. You said Kyle told the tabloids about the fake relationship, but he couldn’t have. He didn’t have any way of knowing about that.”
Meghan made a pained face. “Actually... he did. He was quite pleased to inform me he’s been privy to all my texts. They appear on our old iPad and he’s been reading them all these months. That’s how he saw the texts about you and Liam. He saw another opportunity and took it. Anything for a quick buck.”
To think Chloe had once liked the guy. He’d cost both her and Liam so much. “He really is a schmuck.”
“If it’s any consolation, the temperature in his house is going to be quite uncomfortable for the foreseeable future.”
Chloe breathed a laugh. But this situation was hardly a laughing matter. What she’d done to Liam was unforgivable. What he mustthink of her. She groaned as she lowered her head to the island. “I’m so stupid. I ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“You’re not stupid. This is my fault—the scandals and your breakup. I’m so sorry.”
“Why did I jump to such a hasty conclusion about Liam? I should’ve known better.”
Meghan set her hand on Chloe’s head. “There was plenty of circumstantial evidence, and I’m afraid Sean and I didn’t do you any favors.”
“But I’m the one who knew him.” Chloe raised her head. “I should’ve believed in him. I should’ve stood up for him.”
“Aw, honey.” Meghan’s eyes softened. “You love him, don’t you?”
Chloe’s heart contracted painfully as tears sprang to her eyes. “Why was I so quick to believe the worst?”
“I don’t know.” Meghan glanced down. Pressed her lips together.
Chloe knew that look. “If you’ve got something for me, go for it.”
Meghan wore a sheepish expression. “I think I’ve done enough already, don’t you?”
But her relationship with Liam had held so much promise. And Chloe was tired of repeating history. This was the third time she’d had a long-term, happy relationship come to a sudden halt. Though this was the first time she’d ended things. Her other boyfriends had just found her lacking.
Just like her father, come to think of it. A tear spilled over. “If you have any clue what’s wrong with me, I want to know.”
