Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“Tyler, I’m trying to help.”
“You’ve done enough,” I said. “Trust me.”
“I’m dying,” he said. “I don’t have much longer to live.”
“That’s good news, isn’t it?”
The look in his eyes was the most vulnerable I’d ever seen, but I’d witnessed far too many Academy-Award worthy performances from him over the years to believe it.
“I know I’ve pushed hard on you for everything in life, but I wanted you to know first,” I said.
“Why should I believe you?”
“You don’t have any reason to,” he said. “But I don’t have any reason to lie either. You’re already out of contention for the throne and your brother will take it once I’m gone.”
“What type of disease do you have?”
“Cancer.”
“What type and stage?”
“What does it matter?”
“Tell me.”
“I’m sitting down for an interview about it in a few days,” he said. “You should stay a few more days, tune in, and see.”
“Most sick people don’t want extra attention. They’re too busy—” It suddenly hit me. He wasn’t sick at all, This was still part of a show and game for him, the next level in garnering the attention he loved so much.
No matter the cost.
“It takes a truly twisted person to fake cancer,” I said. “Let me guess how this role goes, though. You announce that you have it, get international sympathy, and then months later, you’re ‘miraculously cured.’ All the while, you’ve used your sympathy time to push whatever narratives you want?”
He didn’t answer.
The truth was all over his face.
“You disgust me.”
“The way you put it makes it sound more awful than it really is.”
“I’m coming back for The Queen’s dinner next weekend and that’s it,” I said. “Only because I made a promise.”
He started to speak again, but I left the room, calling the only person I currently cared about.
Pick up, Chloe.
No Stone Unturned
Chloe
Seattle, Washington
24 weeks & 2 days pregnant
A Pregnant Mistress? The Ultimate Disgrace
How Does He Know The Babies are His?
A Class in Master Deception: How to Trap a Prince
No Need to Fantasize About a Wedding Dress. We Know This Bride Can’t Wear White.
Cruel & Unusual
Chloe
24 weeks & 3 days pregnant
Seattle, Washington
“She was always jealous of Hazel,” Sandra said to a reporter on the afternoon news. “You know, for a long time, I thought we had a ‘hate the boss’ solidarity, but she was a snake this entire time.”
The reporter’s lips curved into a smile. “Care to tell us anything else you know about Chloe March? What about a quick tour of her office?”
People I hadn’t spoken to in years, former high school teachers and classmates I barely remembered, were feeding what little they knew about me to the press every chance they could get.
As much as I wanted to pretend like it didn’t hurt, every word they uttered cracked a new piece of my heart.
And yet, like a train wreck, I couldn’t look away from the carnage.
* * *
“Thanks for coming so late, Kristin.” I ushered her inside Tyler’s place around midnight. “I know you just came back from that live show, and I should’ve given you a day to get settled, but—”
“Shhh.” She pulled me into a hug as sobs wracked my chest. “You don’t have to explain anything to me, Chloe.”
She rubbed my back until I stopped crying, and I led her into the kitchen.
As if this was her place, she gestured for me to take a seat at the bar and opened cabinets in search of tea.
Turning on a kettle, she looked at me. “Spill.”
“They’re so mean and catty. Nothing is off-limits to these people.” I cried. “They found my old Facebook posts even though I deleted my profile. They’re finding my old boyfriends, and they just…They’re making me look a like slut, like I’m a bad, unhinged person who stole him away.”
She poured me a cup of tea as I continued to ramble, never interrupting, never judging.
“And I mean, it’s just not how I thought my final months of pregnancy would be. I think that just made it twenty times worse.” I took a long sip. “That’s it. I’m out of words.”
“Well, before I say anything, do me a favor.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and tapped the screen.
Madison and her top employee were sitting in a car.
“Is Chloe okay?” she asked. “Have you reached her yet?”
“I’m here with her now.” Kristin tilted her phone to toward me. “Can you tell them which cars belong to Hazel?”
“Why?”
“Because we’re about to destroy all of them,” Madison said. “And then do some other things we can’t tell you about.”
“What happened to never wanting to cross paths with her in real life?”
“That was before she pulled this and hurt you.” Madison looked livid. “We’ll happily handle this. Trust me.”
“The Porsche, the Mercedes, and the Audi,” I said. “Those are hers.”
“Okay, thanks. Stop by the creamery sometime this week when you can, okay? I can stay after hours, and make sure no one can get in while you’re there. Just tell me when.”