Chapter 42

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Lola

Waking up on Wade’s couch, I yawn like a bear coming out of hibernation and pick up my ringing phone.

It’s Piper.

I accept the call and put the phone on speaker so I can stretch out my back. “Hey, you. I still feel terrible. What the hell is wrong with––”

She interjects, “Lola, it’s all over the news.”

I’m confused. “What is?”

“That you’re Wade’s sister and Marcus is his father. Everything. Marcus’ affair with Miranda, screwing his business partner and best friend’s wife. It’s all online.”

I catapult upward and spring off the sofa, my stomach in bigger knots than it already was.

After my run in with Graham yesterday, he made good on his promise saying that he would make me regret moving on with another man. He’s clearly now on a war path to make my life a living hell.

“Graham,” we say his name together.

“Shit,” I hiss, my gut doing backflips, bile rising in my throat. “How did you find out, Piper?”

“Spike called Daryl.”

“And Wade?” This was not how he was meant to find out.

“They can’t get hold of him.”

I open the browser on my phone and search for Wade’s name, frantically scrolling through the headlines.

Eagles’ star Wade Collins’ assistant is his secret sister

Marcus Edwards fathered secret love child with ‘Rich and Reckless in Canada’ star Miranda Collins

DNA test confirms Eagles’ Owner, Marcus Edwards is Wade Collins' father

“I’ve got to go.”

“Keep in––” I cut her off and start running.

With no shoes on, not caring that it’s snowing, and my feet will be ice blocks within seconds, I race to Kali’s across the street.

I stumble on the top step, almost falling as I rush to reach her front door.

Tears swimming in my eyes, clouding my sight, I hit the doorbell repeatedly, banging on the door with my fist at the same time.

Open up, open up, open up, I mutter to myself, jumping up and down to keep my feet off the cold ground.

If I thought I felt sick before, I feel worse than ever now.

When Kali opens the door, I don’t give her time to say anything before I start talking. “My story is online,” I blurt, almost unable to make full sentences between deep breaths as I storm into the house.

I’m on the verge of having a panic attack and feel like I might pass out at any minute.

“What is? Graham cheating on you?” Kali asks, looking confused.

“No, about Marcus being Wade’s father. And me being his secret sister.” I lay my hand on my forehead. “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” I exclaim, the pain I’m experiencing clear in my tone.

Kali stares at me, my words taking way too long to register before her face turns to sheer horror. “How?” She pushes her fingers into her scalp.

“Graham sold my story to a newspaper because I told him I slept with someone the night I caught him cheating on me. I saw him yesterday and we got into an argument. I was upset and told him out of spite to hurt him, and in retaliation, he told a reporter about me being Wade’s sister, and how Marcus is Wade’s father.” I can’t get my words out fast enough.

It had to be Graham. There is no one else who would sell my story.

It’s the only explanation.

How could Graham do this to me? And Wade?

Has he not done enough damage?

“This is all my fault,” I wail before Kali pulls me into her arms, where I proceed to bawl. She squeezes me tightly and I can almost hear her brain working, as if trying to figure out what we do.

“Wade is at his weekly check-in with management. Lola, breathe.” Kali pats my back as she slips into emergency public relations mode. “First, we need to call him.”

I jump when Kali’s Apple watch rings.

“It’s Marcus,” she says, hitting the screen to answer. His voice booms down the speaker. “Kali, he knows.”

“I know. Lola’s just told me it’s all over the news.”

“It’s what?” he roars even louder this time.

“Lola’s ex-fiancé sold her story.”

“What?”

This isn’t just a mess; this is a gargantuan disaster.

Kali’s brow dips in confusion as she holds up her watch between the two of us. “How did you know he found out?”

“He showed up at my office today when I wasn’t expecting to see anyone. I’m wearing my glasses today, not my contacts.” The sound of Marcus’s voice becomes muffled, whooshing sounds pound my ears, and I bend down and dry heave.

As soon as he saw the color of Marcus’s eyes, he would have figured it out. They are unique: bright crystal blue.

And Wade is all alone dealing with the truth. He needs people. He needs Kali.

He needs me.

“Where did he go?” Kali asks, sounding frantic.

“I don’t know,” he replies.

Then it hits me. “I have him on my location tracker.” I tap the screen on my phone. “He shared it with me, so I know where he is.”

“What? Why?” Kali asks.

“In the beginning, Marcus asked me to make sure he wasn’t out drinking every night,” I explain. “He’s at Westfield Estate.” I lift my head.

“Miranda’s,” we all say at the same time.

The bile swirls around my gut like toxic waste.

Hold tight, Wade. I’m coming for you.