Chapter 15
Chapter 15
The wedding drama had gone viral.
I woke to a flood of unknown callers spamming my phone. That was when I knew: shit had really hit the fan.
It took less than two days for me to be doxxed. My personal and business information was out in the open, and things were spiraling out of control.
As soon as I stepped out of my car, the path between me and the company gate was swarming with tabloid reporters.
I silently thanked Cherry for her foresight in assigning security to escort me.
Maddison was the one at fault, but her status as someone with an incurable illness had earned her sympathy points online.
Most people were attacking me and the company’s flagship website instead. Our server couldn’t handle the onslaught.
The PR department tried to put out the fire but achieved little. At my wit’s end, I hired lawyers to help draft a statement. We were preparing to defend me through legal action.
The chaos continued late into the night.
When I noticed most of the media had finally dispersed, I tidied my desk and prepared to leave.
A knock on my door broke the silence.
It was Edward. He looked haggard–thinner than before.
Taking care of Maddison in the hospital, on top of his workload, had clearly taken a toll on him. He’d always been somewhat frail.
In the past, seeing him like this would have hurt. Now, all I felt was indifference, maybe even a little satisfaction. He deserved it.
I frowned. “Why are you here?”
He gazed at me intently.
“The Edwardian Taylor is in trouble. I came to see if I could help,” he said softly.
I forced a smile. “You shouldn’t have.”
“Tay… don’t overexert yourself. I know how hard this has been for you,” he said, his voice laced with concern as he stepped closer.
I recoiled internally. His sympathy felt hollow, calculated. Ignoring him, I grabbed my coat and bag. “None of your business, Edward. I’m not interested in whatever act you’re putting on,” I snapped.
I brushed past him, making my lack of interest clear. 1
Suddenly, he pulled me into a hug. “Taylor…”
“Edward goddamn Kennedy, let me go!” I snarled, revulsion surging through me. “We are nothing to each other now. Stay in your lane!”
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+25 BONUS
Chapter 15
He held on tighter, and I felt my skin crawl.
“Don’t be like this, Tay. I know you hate me–you have every right to,” he murmured, his face buried in my neck.
I stiffened, confused by his behavior. Then, a thought struck me.
“Oh my God, is she dead?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
He had once promised to return to me after Maddison was gone. Could this be it?
“No…” His voice cracked, and he sounded gloomy. “She’s stabilized, but she’s still not out of danger.”
So, she was alive. Then what the hell was this?
“My body felt like it was falling apart after I donated blood. It took me two days to recover. And then I thought about how many times you’ve done the same for me–how you always took care of me. I just…”
My heart fluttered, but I quickly quashed the feeling.
The irony wasn’t lost on me. He only realized the depth of my sacrifices now, after experiencing a fraction of it himself.
“And you should have told me you two had the same dad,” he added, his voice muffled.
I pushed him away, anger flaring. “What? You think that would have made a difference? That you’d somehow have chosen to stand by me if I’d told you?”
He hesitated, his frown deepening. “She’s got her flaws, but wouldn’t you see her illness as punishment enough? Doesn’t that make things equal between you?”
דיי
Chapter 16
