Page 115 of The Paradise Problem

“Anna!” a man yells. “That’s Anna Green! That’s the wife!”

And from there, everything devolves into chaos. My name is shouted in a cacophony of voices so earsplitting it triggers a strange instinct to cry in panic. Mics are shoved in my face; hands come up to my shoulders, my back.

Do you have any comment about the scandal?

Can you tell us what you think about Alex Weston’s statements?

Have you and Liam consummated the marriage?

Have you spoken to Ray Weston?

Anna, is it true you and Liam are expecting a baby?

Jesus Christ.

Arms try to guide me this way and that, journalists step in my path, blocking me in so I have to Tetris my way through the narrow path of bodies. There are so many people around me that I don’t know which way I’m walking until I suddenly find myself in the middle of the street and have to redirect back over toward Liam’s house. There are a few nice humans who are trying to help me, but most are hoping to get a photo, a word, anything out of me.

Do you know if Liam Weston has any comments about what his brother said?

Anna, over here, one photo, please!

Is your marriage to Liam Weston legitimate?

“Please,” I say. “Please just let me through.”

A murmur rises up farther away in the crowd, and all hell breaks loose. Just beside my ear, one of the helpers yells, “Over here! Over here!” The crowd screams, “Liam!” in unison only seconds before an arm comes firmly around my shoulders and I’m pulled into a solid chest and ushered through the crowd.

Liam.

I gust out a sob, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“I got you,” he says. “I got you.”

My face is pressed to his shoulder and his voice vibrates through me as he calmly says, “Let us through…. Excuse us…. No…. Excuse us….” And when a strange hand comes around my forearm, Liam’s voice turns deep and sharp: “Do not touch her.”

Finally, we break through and reach his front steps, where he pushes me up to the porch, swings his door open, and slams it quickly behind us.

The chaos seems to melt away outside, and Liam and I stand facing each other for a few breathless seconds before I burst forward, throwing myself into his arms.

“I didn’t know!” I sob.

“I know.” His arms come around me, his hand cupping my head, smoothing my hair.

“You didn’t tell me!”

“I’m sorry, I—”

“I know you didn’t do any of this, Liam, I know what happened.” I step back and he looks down at me with confusion. “I talked to Blaire, and she explained everything. We have to fight this! You have to go out there and say that you absolutely did not do any of the things they’re saying.”

He frowns down at me. “I don’t need to—”

“You do,” I insist, sucking in a very ugly, very wet breath. “I need everyone to know that you would never, not in any universe, do these things.”

His eyes soften. “Anna.”

“Were you afraid of telling me?” I ask. “Were you afraid that I wouldn’t believe you?”

“Anna,” he says again, bemused.

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