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I turned to leave, satisfied with that ending.
“He came to us,” she called after me. “Yourpreciousboyfriend came to us and offered to date you in exchange for publicity. How about youthinkabout that.”
I scoffed at the ridiculousness of what she’d said, and I didn’t bother turning around to look at her. Walker had gone still at her comment though, his fingers pressing into my lower back as he led us out of the courtroom.
There was no way she’d been telling the truth…right?
The sidewalk outside the courthouse was insane, teeming with a frenetic energy, cameras flashing everywhere, like strobe lights in a darkened club. My lawyer's voice cut through thechaos. "I'll handle the statement," he said, his tone brimming with confidence. "You need to get out of here."
“Thank you,” I told him, and he smiled and nodded for a second before he turned towards the crowd.
“Car’s over there, angel,” Walker murmured as he huddled close behind me, his arm outstretched in front of my chest to prevent anyone from getting too close.
I kept my gaze down, trying to avoid the eyes of the reporters who’d taken such joy in my downfall all these years.
We made it to the other side of the sidewalk where the driver already had the door open of the SUV we were taking to the airport—I was ready to get out of this hellish town as soon as possible.
I was about to slide onto the leather seats when a ripple of applause suddenly echoed through the crowd, like the first drops of rain after a long drought.
I froze, one foot in the car, my heart hammering in my chest as I glanced around in disbelief.
The crowd of paparazzi were clapping and cheering for me.
These were the same people who had once reveled in my downfall, the same faces that had gleefully spread the lies and rumors Jolette and Marco had used to tarnish my name.
And yet, here they were, applauding me, offering their support in a way I had never imagined possible.
I flipped them off and got in the SUV.
Becausefuck themfor deciding to be decentnow.
The engine roared to life, the steady hum of the vehicle a soothing backdrop to the emotions raging in my chest.
At least we were on the way to the airport. I’d always been able to think more clearly outside of L.A.
“Do you want to talk about what she said?” Walker finally asked.
“No. Not right now,” I murmured, my gaze drifting to the driver who was pretending not to listen. I’d had enough of strangers knowing everything about my business for today.
For my life…
“Wearegoing to talk about it,” he insisted. “When we get home.”
I finally turned to look at him, taking in his gorgeous, concerned face. Home. Was it still my home?
There couldn’t be a world where he’d betrayed me. That couldn’t be the plot twist of my story.
"Was she telling the truth?" The words slipped past my lips before I could stop them, my voice barely above a whisper but ringing loud in the confined space of the car.
Walker's eyes flickered with a myriad of emotions, his features contorting with conflict as he struggled to find the right words. "It's complicated," he finally said, his voice strained as he met my gaze. “But no...”
Complicated. The word echoed in my mind like a discordant melody, leaving me reeling. Anger, hurt, betrayal—all vied for dominance as I searched his face for answers.
But his expression remained inscrutable, a mask of conflicting emotions.
The rest of the car ride to the airport was eerily silent, the tension between us tangible and suffocating.
As we boarded Lincoln and Ari's private plane, aka “Grandma Airways”, Mabel and Edna greeted us with non-alcoholic sparkling cider and cookies.
