Page 153 of Rescued by the Single Dad

This was where she was meant to be. This was where she belonged.

This was her happily ever after.

On the island.

With Talia.

With Clint.

With her new family.

One month later ...

“Well, that’s the craziest story I’ve ever heard,” replied the reporter, as Brooke sat in the weird egg-shaped chair at the contemporary-styled news studio.

Brooke shrugged and smiled. “I know. I still catch myself wondering if it was all a dream.”

“Now, I hear that Inez had damning evidence against you. Whatever became of that?”

Brooke smiled, reached for her water glass, and took a sip. “Yeah, she did. She pieced together conversations we’d had that she recorded without my knowledge. Then made up fake recordings of me asking her to take care of Maren, Carol and Phoebe. Which of course, I never did. I would never, ever want anybody to get hurt. Least of all for a ... for a role in a movie or a brand ambassador deal. But forensics proved it’d all been fabricated. That she spliced audio together. I was never charged.”

“And the man who confessed to trying to kill you the first time?”

“We worked closely with local authorities to make sure any and all images of his daughter were scraped off the internet. And as it turns out, Inez created those using AI. His daughter never took nude photos of herself or sent them to anyone. He knows that I am at his disposal should he need anything. To be manipulated and extorted like that ... it makes me sick that Inez stooped so low. That she was so calculating.”

“Yeah, it seems like she had this planned for a while?” the reporter replied, flipping her dark brown ponytail back over her shoulder. “And you had no idea?”

“I still feel really bad about that, but no. It’s made me take a hard look at my life and make some serious changes. I don’t live in California anymore, and I’m going to be very selective about what roles I take. Maybe one a year now. I’m focused on family. On community and on mental health, mine and others.”

“Incredible.” Her eyes widened and her filler-filled lips formed a big pouty O. “I’m dying to know what happened to the jewellery you had on the night you were pushed. Did you have to return it?”

Brooke chuckled. “I did. Yes, of course. Though, Francisco Kruz and I are good friends and he gifted me a bracelet after the incident.”

“I’d love to see it sometime,” the reporter crooned.

Brooke simply smiled and nodded.

“Now, I need to ask, what about your dad?”

Brooke narrowed her gaze at the reporter. The woman knew that Brooke’s father was an off-limits topic, and yet she was asking it anyway because they were live. Then she smiled. “I sincerely hope my father is receiving the rehabilitation he needs. Next question.”

The reporter only appeared flustered for a moment, then regained composure. “So you said you’re not living in California anymore? Where are you living?”

Warmth filled Brooke’s chest. “In paradise.” She faced the camera. “However, I will ask the public to please respect my privacy and my family’s privacy. Don’t come seeking me out. Respect my choice to live away from the public eye. I will still make appearances and still do movies, but I want to keep my personal and professional lives separate. Keep my family out of the public eye.”

“You keep mentioning family, does that mean ...”

Brooke bit her bottom lip and smiled. “The man who saved me has become more than just a white knight. I love him with all my heart. I love his daughter. I love his entire family. They are my family now, and I would lay down my life for any one of them.”

The reporter smiled at her with overly plump lips. “Well, I have to say, this is some of the best news and the richest and most rewarding, happy ending I’ve probably ever heard.” She faced the camera. “Brooke Barker, everyone. Back from the dead and—” she glanced at Brooke. “Happier than ever?”

Brooke beamed. “Happier than ever and finally at peace.”

“And cut,” said the director.

The reporter got up from her seat all smiles and approached Brooke. “Thank you so much, Brooke, that was amazing.”

Brooke stood up, a big smile on her face as well. She accepted the reporter’s hand. “My pleasure. Next time, though, when I say off-limits, I mean, off-limits. And I will embarrass you by calling you out. Got it?” She squeezed the woman’s hand a little harder until her eyes went wide and she chuckled awkwardly.

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