AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I didn’t think much of it when my phone pinged. I casually checked the screen, then almost fell out of my chair when I read the latest text from Lydia.
Who do you think you are, lowballing us like that?
Just remember who took you in when you had nothing!
I saw your pictures online. You’re living in a mansion while we starve! I’m going to make you pay.
She’d ended with a devil emoji, followed by a stick of dynamite.
I pushed my food away, completely losing my appetite. I didn’t think that giving my father and Lydia thirty thousand dollars—on top of the million Bryce had already paid—was “lowballing” them. But apparently, what I thought didn’t matter. Lydia was greedy, that was for sure. Seeing the pictures of me online, living on Bryce’s private island, obviously wasn’t helping. I needed to do something to make her happy, but what?
I glanced nervously at Bryce. He wouldn’t be happy that she was harassing me, and he would be angry about her threats. The last thing we needed was pressure from my step-monster right now. There was enough trouble to go around!
“Hey, your interview’s coming on. Let’s go watch it!” Daphne hopped up and headed into the house uninvited.
“I guess we’re following her.” Jake and Colby followed Daphne, and Noah followed them.
“Hey Noah, wait up.” I caught up to my brother. He had Boss on a leash; I was surprised that the puppy behaved for him. “Did you have a good session with the trainer this morning? Boss seems almost…obedient.”
“He’s really good. Aren’t you, Boss?” Noah reached down and scratched him behind the ears. “The trainer said it’s important to let him know I’m in charge. Be firm but gentle, you know?”
I ruffled his hair. “You’re a good kid, you know that?”
“Ew Chloe, letgo.” He ducked out from under me. “I’m so glad to be back, though. I don’t ever want to leave again, okay?”
“Okay.” I glanced at Bryce, who was still deep in conversation with Dale. “I don’t ever want to leave, either.”
“Then let’s stay.” Boss tugged on the leash, and Noah started to run. “I’ll see you in there!”
We gathered in the living room, and I sat on the couch, hugging a pillow to my chest. All of a sudden, I was nervous. It had been bad enough to see myself online earlier that day. But watching myself on television? I broke out into a sweat.
Even though he was still talking to Dale, Bryce sat beside me, his hand on my thigh. His constant presence, combined with his physical touch, made everything better. He was a source of strength and comfort for me. Only recently, I’d considered him my torturer. But somehow, everything had changed. If he’d sat away from me on the couch, if he hadn’t put his hand on my skin, I would’ve cried.
What the hell, Chloe?It seemed I was breaking promises to myself. That was never a good idea, but as I settled in next to my husband, his hand on my thigh, warmth spread through me. Until the interview with Kysa Reeves came on, and then I was filled with terror.
Kysa looked fantastic, of course, in her charcoal dress, her hair pulled back in a sleek bun. “Good evening, and welcome to averyspecial, totally exclusive interview. You’re going to hear from Bryce Windsor tonight. He’s the son of Gene Windsor, the embattled founder and CEO of Windsor Enterprises. Bryce Windsor is the youngest billionaire in the world.”
“I’m close,” Jake said. He scowled at Bryce. “And after I vest, I’m taking that title.”
“Then when I vest, I’m taking it fromyou.” Colby grinned at Jake.
“Can you two be quiet?” Daphne asked. “If your father’s convicted, no one’s vesting anything.Shh.I want to hear this!”
An image of Bryce’s island filled the screen. It was an aerial view of his estate, then of Gene’s. “This is the Windsors’ private getaway—a remote island off the coast of Maine. As you can see, no expense was spared at these amazing compounds. But everything is in jeopardy because of the insider trading allegations against Gene Windsor. At the time of this writing, both the SEC and the Department of Justice are investigating the Windsor Enterprises CEO. If convicted, Gene Windsor could be fined up to twenty-five million dollars and spend twenty years in prison. It’s no surprise that Bryce Windsor is doing everything he can to protect his father’s reputation, their family name, and their company.”
The picture changed to one of Bryce and me from our wedding day. I cringed at the image. I looked so stressed, and my makeup was cakey from the humidity. Bryce looked handsome as ever in his suit, but his expression was all business. “In happier news, Bryce Windsor recently married a young woman from Boston, Chloe Windsor. I met with the newlyweds at Mr. Windsor’s home in Mount Desert Island, Maine.”
It flashed to the interview, and I hid behind the pillow. “You look great, Chloe!” Daphne enthused. I squinted at the screen: Bryce looked ridiculously handsome in his dark suit. As for me, I appeared much more pulled together than I’d felt. My emerald-green dress looked simple, elegant, and chic. Thank God for Midge; she’d made my hair and makeup look flawless.
“You look weird,” Noah said. I elbowed him.
Kysa started her questions, and the interview progressed. When it got to the part where Bryce discussed the plans for leading the company in his father’s absence, it got very quiet.
“No one said he’s stepping down,”Bryce said as he faced the camera. “But for now, he’s going to concentrate on the investigation, and I’m going to concentrate on running our company. My family is committed to the success of our business. We aren’t going anywhere. We intend to come out of this stronger than before.”
When it got to the part where I spoke—and declared that not only was my husband the youngest billionaire but also the most handsome—I completely shut my eyes. I wasn’t meant to be on camera. I tried to block out the sound of my voice.
When it was over, Bryce rubbed my leg. “I don’t know why you’re hiding—you did great.”
