Page 134 of Late Harvest

“Remy,” he responded carefully, dragging a hand through his hair, “it’s best we discuss this privately. Now.” He scanned the room. “And I thank each of you in advance for respecting Dr. Remington’s privacy and not fueling the gossip mill.” He took her by the elbow. “Any more than it’s already spinning,” Brinder muttered under his breath.

Remy blinked her eyes repeatedly to clear them. She didn’t need reading glasses yet, but she couldn’t seem to focus on the screen in front of her. Not after reading the first screaming headline on the popular entertainment website. She plastered a hand over her mouth to keep from howling in rage and devastation.

Bash Wheatley Marriage a Fraud!, it blared in a massive, bold font. And below it, Middle-aged gold digger traps him in marriage!

Short puffs of air hit her hand as she panted, fighting to catch her breath.

“Wait, what? I don’t understand,” she whispered, her whole body trembling.

Brinder had guided her into his office chair, showing her the article, regret and fury emanating from him. Now, he eased the chair away from his desk and bent her forward so her head was tucked between the legs of her scrub pants. “Take some deep breaths, Remy. Honor is on her way here for moral support. She and Grayton’ll take you home. And Benny’s already put in a call to Bash’s agent to offer her assistance managing this. It’s just a rumor. We’ll solve it.”

“But…it’s not…a rumor,” Remy gasped out, fighting to pull air into her lungs, her nose stinging with the tears she was holding back.

“It is.” Brinder’s voice was soft but firm. “Don’t try to do surgery on this right now, Remy. You have a team to help you and Bash figure this out. And uncover who leaked it.”

Remy dropped her head onto her arm, closing her eyes and praying this was just a bad dream. But, in minutes, Melody was on speakerphone. She was talking rapidly, but Remy could barely take in her words.

Remy heard Brinder’s office door open and Amani’s low voice. She handed Remy a glass of water, pausing to pat her on the back. It was that solicitous, kind action that broke Remy’s emotional walls. She crumpled inward, sobbing.

“Arabella? Is that you? Why is she crying? Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?!”

Sebastian’s frantic voice cut through her despair. Melody must have patched him in.

“Arabella, what happened? I was on set in the middle of filming, and the next thing I know, Jared is practically dragging me into my trailer. Angel, are you ok?”

Remy could hear his distress, but couldn’t manage to form any sounds other than the sobs escaping from behind her hand.

“Bash, it’s Brinder here. We’re in my office. Listen, I need you to stay calm⁠—”

“How the fuck am I supposed to stay calm when my wife is in your office and crying so hard she can’t even talk to me?” Sebastian hollered, making Remy jump in reflex.

As if he could sense her reaction, Sebastian exhaled roughly. “Fuck. Arabella, I’m so sorry I raised my voice. I’m just really worried and freaking the fuck out.”

“Bash,” Melody’s voice cut through. “We have a problem. Someone leaked your arrangement with Dr. Remington.”

“Leaked it?” Sebastian sounded more confused now than angry, which was progress. As for Remy, she was barely breathing.

Too good to last.

Her magical world with Sebastian always had an expiration date—even if he would never admit it. Only…now it seemed it would be sooner than she’d ever feared at her lowest times.

Melody cleared her throat. “According to the outlet that broke the story about thirty minutes ago, a source close to you and Dr. Remington revealed the true nature of your marriage. An eight-digit donation to a charity of Dr. Remington’s choosing in exchange for marriage to you, allowing you to secure your role in Paradise,” Melody offered concisely, her voice devoid of any emotion.

Well, that makes one of us.

Remy flashed to that first meeting at Brinder’s, when she thought movie star Bash Wheatley was punking her. He’d been a stranger with an outrageous suggestion. Now? He was the center of her world.

“Oh my fucking God!” Remy heard the sound of something breaking on the other end of the line, and then low, soothing words from Jared that she couldn’t make out.

“I need to address this,” Melody filled in sharply, as if Sebastian weren’t melting down in Nashville while Remy herself was collapsing in horror and shame.

“No. I need to address this.” Sebastian’s tone brooked no arguments.

“But Bash⁠—”

“Dammit, Melody. Just let me think for a second.”

Everyone was so quiet, Remy could hear the faint ticking of Brinder’s wall clock, though the whooshing of her frantic heartbeat nearly drowned it out.