Chapter 3 - THE STORY THAT ESCAPED
Nathan did not touch Emma.
He wanted to.
Instead, he stood in front of her while hospital security rushed toward the photographers.
“Do not answer them,” he said quietly.
Emma’s face had gone white.
“How did they find me?”
“I don’t know.”
“You promised—”
“I know.”
Nathan looked sick.
Emma stepped back.
That hurt more than the accusation.
A reporter shouted from behind security.
“Emma, did you hide the pregnancy because Nathan was leaving you for Olivia?”
Nathan turned.
“Say her name again and I sue every outlet carrying this garbage.”
Emma grabbed his sleeve.
“Stop.”
Nathan looked at her.
“You’re making it worse.”
He closed his mouth.
Security escorted them through a side entrance.
Inside, Emma leaned against the wall.
Her hand went protectively over her stomach.
Nathan noticed.
“Are you hurting?”
“No.”
“Emma.”
“I said no.”
He stepped back immediately.
She closed her eyes.
“How did they know I was in Oregon?”
Nathan pulled out his phone.
“I’m going to find out.”
“Without destroying somebody’s life.”
His jaw tightened.
“Without destroying anybody’s life.”
Within an hour, the answer began appearing online.
Photographs from the Manhattan gala.
Nathan dancing with Olivia.
Emma standing alone in the background.
A second photograph showed Emma leaving without her ring.
Then screenshots appeared.
Messages between Nathan and Olivia.
Made it home. Wish you were here.
Chicago was better because you were there.
Sometimes you’re the only person who understands what this company does to me.
Emma stared at the screen.
Nathan stood across the motel room.
He had insisted she not return to the bookstore until they knew who had revealed her location.
Emma had agreed only because her doctor had warned her to avoid stress.
She looked at the messages again.
Nathan’s messages.
Not Olivia’s.
His.
“You never told me about these.”
Nathan’s face was gray.
“I forgot some of them existed.”
Emma laughed once.
It was not amusement.
“That’s supposed to help?”
“No.”
“Did you mean them?”
Nathan answered carefully.
“At the time?”
“Yes.”
He did not lie.
“Yes.”
Emma nodded slowly.
That honesty hurt.
But somehow, a lie would have hurt worse.
Nathan looked at the floor.
“I was lonely.”
Emma’s head snapped up.
“You were lonely?”
“I’m not blaming you.”
“You had a wife sleeping ten feet away from you.”
“I know.”
“You were lonely because you came home at midnight and opened your laptop.”
“I know.”
“You were lonely because whenever I tried talking to you, you told me tomorrow.”
“I know.”
Her voice broke.
“You created the loneliness, Nathan.”
He closed his eyes.
“I know.”
Emma wiped her face angrily.
“You gave her the version of you I spent years begging to see.”
Nathan could not answer.
His phone rang.
Eleanor.
He answered on speaker.
“Mom.”
“Nathan, turn on Channel Seven.”
“It’s already everywhere.”
Eleanor inhaled.
“There’s more.”
Emma looked up.
“What more?”
Eleanor hesitated.
Then she said it.
“Olivia is giving an interview tonight.”
Nathan went completely still.
“She’s claiming the company fired her to cover up a personal relationship with you.”
Emma stared at him.
Nathan whispered one word.
“Jesus.”
Eleanor continued.
“And she says she has evidence.”
Emma lowered the phone.
Nathan looked at her.
For the first time since Newport, Emma’s eyes did not hold uncertainty.
They held fear.
May you like
Not fear that Nathan had slept with Olivia.
Fear that she still did not know the whole truth.
