Page 98 of Daddies' Little Troublemaker

“Chloe, are you sure?” I blurt.

She looks up, frowning. “What? We just went through the whole ceremony, and you’re asking me this?”

“It’s just…the texts,” I whisper. “Have you really forgiven him? It’s really fine with you? He’s still sending them.”

Troy’s face pales. Mom’s face goes red.

Instead of looking sad or upset, though, Chloe just looks confused. “Texts?”

“It’s nothing,” Mom says.

“Troy?” Chloe says. “What texts?”

He jams his hands into his suit pockets and mumbles, “I don’t know.”

“You’re lying,” Chloe says. “I know what it looks like because I watched you lie to Evelyn for months. What texts?”

“You didn’t tell her?” I ask Mom.

I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. Mom said that Troy and Chloe were working it out, and I shouldn’t insert myself into their relationship. If Chloe is pregnant, it makes even more sense not to upset her.

But this is something she should know. I thought she knew.

Chloe turns to our mother. “Tell me what?”

“It was just cold feet,” Troy rushes to say.

I laugh. “One of your texts says, word for word, This isn’t cold feet, I really want to be with you.”

Eyes flashing, Chloe says, “Evelyn, are you just trying to fuck up my wedding?”

The pastor flinches. He shifts to the side as if trying to escape.

“No, I’m not trying to do anything,” I say. “It’s the truth and I thought you knew. Look, here’s my phone.”

“Evelyn.” Mom’s voice is sharp. “Don’t you dare show that to Chloe.”

I hesitate, phone clutched in my hand. Troy looks at it like I’m holding a snake.

Chloe stares between all of us, her gaze stopping at Troy. “I guess I don’t need to see any texts—your reactions say enough.”

“I was confused,” Troy says. “Evelyn kept tempting me?—”

“You’re lying,” I say. “I shut you down every time you texted. I have proof right here on my phone for anyone to read.”

Chloe turns to Mom next. “And you knew about all of this?”

“Sweetheart.” Mom wrings her hands together, her long fingernails shining. “I encouraged Evelyn to stop flirting with Troy. I want what’s best for you.”

“What’s best for me…like a cheating husband?” Chloe asks.

I have to bite my tongue. Is Chloe surprised that Troy would cheat?

“I want your happiness,” Mom says. “And for some reason, that happiness includes this man right here. Have you forgotten that? Evelyn’s been scheming this whole time, trying to win him back.”

“That’s not true,” I say, but Mom talks over me.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” she says to me, “if that’s the reason you wanted to stay at your dad’s house—so you could have privacy with Troy.”

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