She obviously didn’t fit into his world. Hadn’t he said all along he should stick to someone in the industry? He should’ve listened to his gut. There was a reason celebrities married other celebrities.
He sank onto the bed, willing his heart to slow down before it burst from his chest. But it felt as if it had already shattered into a million pieces.
Chapter37
Chloe’s alarm blared at o-dark-hundred. She groaned as she turned it off and rolled over. She couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed and go to set. Couldn’t bring herself to face the man she loved—the one who’d betrayed her so cruelly, so publicly.
Who did that?
A person who put his career ahead of everything and everyone else, that’s who.
She’d hoped for an answer to her question last night—something less painful than what she’d come to believe. And when he called her, she was so tempted to answer. But she knew herself. Liam could be very convincing—he was an actor for heaven’s sake—and she was afraid she’d be susceptible to his lies. God knew she wanted to believe he was innocent.
She just had to get through the next few days and then he’d go back to Hollywood. Back to his regular life. And she could go on with hers. Maybe she wouldn’t even return to the set; it wasn’t as if they needed her. She didn’t make any real decisions, and the filming was pretty much in the bag anyway. She sure didn’t want to face any reporters who might be hanging around town. She’d already received two voice mails in the night asking for interviews. She’d blocked them too. But tabloid reporters were like roaches—where there was one, there were a hundred. She might have to change her phone number before all was said and done.
She thought back to last night when she’d had to break the news to her mom. She took it with grace and focused on comforting Chloe and Sean and assuring them everything would be okay. Clearly she’d recovered from Ted Daniels’s abandonment in ways Chloe hadn’t. Just what she wanted to lie here thinking about at four in the morning.
Sunday and Monday dragged by. Since the restaurant was closed she hid out at her house. Monday night she heard from Sean. He’d consulted a local attorney about their mom’s NDA. Their father would have no case since Mom hadn’t been responsible for the leak. Of course, their father couldn’t know that. But he’d find out quickly enough if he dared to file a lawsuit. Now that they’d had time to digest the information, they doubted he would. It would only bring more attention to what he’d done.
On Tuesday Meghan stopped over. It was past noon and Chloe was still in her pajamas when she answered the door. She hadn’t showered or even combed her hair.
Meghan took one peek at her and frowned. “Come on, friend. You can’t hole up here forever. You need to grab a shower, then I’m taking you for coffee.”
Losing the fight with gravity, Chloe plopped on the sofa, disturbing Buttercup, who gave her a sour look. “I have coffee here.” She hadn’t made any, but still.
“That’s hardly the point. It’s been three days and you need to start getting on with your life.”
“Two and a half. And I’ll do just that as soon as there’s no chance of running into He Who Must Not Be Named.”
Meghan stood in front of her, arms crossed. “This isn’t like you. You’re missing the last days of the filming of your movie! Where’s your pride? Your fighting spirit? You have more heart than anyone I know.”
Meghan became hazy as Chloe’s vision blurred with tears. “My heart’s been smashed to smithereens.”
Her friend’s expression softened. She sagged onto the sofa and gathered Chloe close. “I’m so sorry, honey. He’s a real jerkwad for what he did.”
That was about as malicious as Meghan ever got. Chloe leaned into her friend and let the tears come for a few minutes.
“It’s not just what he did,” Chloe said once she’d gathered herself. “Though that’s bad enough. This whole thing has triggered all the pain from my father’s rejection. Like it’s compounded because now I’m dealing with two betrayals.”
“That makes all the sense in the world. But you know what your father did was no reflection on you, right?”
“I know that in my head. I can reason like an adult now, and I know sometimes parents mess up becausethey’remessed up. But deep down I’m kind of afraid there’s something wrong with me. My father left and never came back, Meghan. Yet he stuck around for his other daughter. What did she have that I didn’t have?” Pain unfurled in her chest. More tears prickled her eyes.
“Oh, sweetheart, not a single thing. I can’t explain how a man could do that to his child. I just know it’s nothing to do with you. Because you are a wonderful person and you make my life so much brighter. He left Sean, too, you know. Do you think there’s something lacking in him? Or in your mom?”
“Of course not.”
“There you go, then.” She threw a hand up. “Clearly your biological father is a whackadoodle.”
Chloe huffed a laugh.
“Plus I’m always right about these things.”
Chloe sniffled. “That’s true, you are.”
“Then be smart and listen to your friend.” She kissed the top of Chloe’s head and pulled back. “I’m also right about you needingto get out of the house.” She wrinkled her nose. “And about that shower. So off you go. I’ll be waiting right here for you.”
I’mgonnakill Meghan.
