Page 98 of Falling Like Stars

Zach doesn’t smile. “I hate this. I fucking hate this.”

“I know. But let’s not let it ruin tonight, okay?”

He blows out a breath. “Right. Okay.”

But I know it’s not okay. None of this is okay, but I don’t have any idea how to fix it, or for how long Eva intends to interfere in Zach’s life. And maybe mine now, too.

We settle into perusing our menus, when “You Need to Calm Down” emanates faintly from Zach’s jacket pocket. He looks at his phone, brows knit.

“A new Scandal Sheet has dropped. Courtney sent the link.”

I bite my lip, waiting. Then watch as the color drains from Zach’s face.

It’s happened already. Laurent is accusing me of stealing from him. My career is over before it even began.

“What is it? Zach…?”

The phone tumbles out of his slack hand onto the table, and he sits back in his chair, his expression unreadable. I snatch his phone and read, and the blood drains out of me too.

“Oh no…”

I glance up at Zach, at the devastation materializing on his face, and I wonder how my heart can shatter into a million pieces for him while pure, white-hot rage rampages through me for that woman who won’t stop hurting him.

April 29th Edition

SCANDAL SHEET BOMBSHELL: Is EVA DEAN Expecting??? Fans Outraged Over ZACHARY BUTLER'S New Romance Amid PREGNANCY Rumors!

Hold on to your hats and glasses, kiddies. Hollywood’s favorite love triangle has taken another hairpin turn straight into drama-ville. Just days after Zachary Butler was spotted smooching Rowan Walsh in his hometown of St. Louis, his ex-fiancée, Eva Dean has dropped a major hint about a possible pregnancy!!

Eva, with her usual dramatic flair, shared an Instagram photo of baby booties alongside the caption, “To new beginnings…<3” Fans and followers quickly jumped to the obvious conclusion, that Eva might be expecting. The post has already racked up thousands of likes and comments, with many offering congratulations and asking for confirmation. Others are not so happy…with the possible father-to-be.

Social media has erupted with outrage, with many criticizing Zachary for his carelessness. “How could he be getting involved with that Rowan person when Eva might be carrying his child?” one fan tweeted. “Rowan knew what she was getting into. She should’ve kept her hands to herself until things were settled.” Wrote another, “Zachary, NOOO. #TeamEva.”

As for our dear Zachary, his thoughts on these developments remain unknown, leaving us all to wonder how he feels about the possibility of impending fatherhood. Will Eva confirm the pregnancy rumors, and how will Zachary react to this potentially life-changing news? Stay tuned!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“HOW BAD IS it?” I ask. In front of me is the Los Angeles skyline—hazy brown and blue—from Syd’s conference room window. Behind me, the seats around the table are occupied by my manager, Chase, Courtney, and my lawyer, Jackson.

“It’s not good, chief,” Chase says in a low voice. “Twitter, or whatever it’s called, has blown up.”

“They’re not loving you for the timing,” Courtney says slowly. “Rowan is taking a lot of heat too. Homewrecker vibes.”

I flinch. There was no home to wreck, but who needs facts when you have click-bait?

“Maybe I’m too old, but I don’t understand why anyone’s mad,” Syd puts in. “Why is everyone assuming that you’re…well, that you’re—”

“The father?” I say without turning, the word like a knife in my chest.

“Er, yes.”

“Implied correlations and how The Scandal Sheet is worded,” Courtney explains. “The public has seen Zach and Eva together at the Oscars splashed over every magazine and online site for the last nine weeks, and she hasn’t been linked with anyone since. So, there’s a perception. And while Eva doesn’t come out and say it, the alleged backlash points to Zach as the…um, responsible party. So now there’s actual backlash.”

“Alleged backlash? Those quotes weren’t real?” Jackson gives a low whistle. “That’s some bullshit.”

“I don’t see how they can get away with manufacturing these outrageous leaps in logic,” Syd grumbles. “How do we even know she’s pregnant?”

“We don’t,” Courtney says, and then the room goes silent.

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