Page 84 of Close to My Heart

I didn’t take my gaze off the screen. “Just something on my site. Nothing to worry about.”

“You’d said your followers loved it when you married Wes. That it seemed to give them hope that they’d find love too,” Mother said, and I wasn’t sure where she was going with this. She wouldn’t have brought it up if she didn’t have some scheme in mind.

“That’s right.” I attempted to smile, but I couldn’t.

Mom pulled out her phone, and I prayed that she wasn’t following me on that site because then she would know everything. “Well, this is interesting. They’re saying your marriage is a sham. That you faked it to inherit the estate.”

I stood while shaking my head, a sense of dread hanging over my body.

A muscle in Wes’s jaw ticked as he stood and threw the napkin on the table. “I didn’t want to see my friend marry some random guy who’d use her for her money.”

“You married my granddaughter to protect her?” Grandmother’s voice was filled with shock and a little awe.

Wes’s face screwed up. “She’s my best friend. I couldn’t see her married to one of those jerks.”

Grandmother’s eyes widened. “This is interesting.”

Mother placed her phone on the table. “You faked your marriage to inherit. You’ve brought shame to our family.”

My heart was racing now. “I’m not sure how it got out. No one knew except—” Wes’s family.

“You think I had something to do with this, or my family?” Wes’s voice raised with each word.

“I don’t know what to think.” And what did it matter now that the truth was out?

“I have to get to work.” Wes turned to leave, and I wanted to follow him, to apologize, but I wasn’t sure for what. For marrying him? For loving him? For thinking a fake relationship could turn into something that would last.

“You thought it was necessary to fake a relationship to inherit?” Grandma asked, her voice wavering.

“You knew I wanted to inherit the estate. You knew how much it meant to me. I had to try.” But now I felt nothing but shame, and my heart ached. Wes was upset, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to fix it. Everyone knew our relationship was a fraud.

There was nothing left to salvage. Even if we reconciled, everyone would question whether it was real.

“I’m so sorry. I was planning on telling you everything when you were well. I was prepared to lose everything, the property, the house. We broke your trust, and I feel awful about betraying you.” I wasn’t sure what to do about Wes. I’d hurt him. I’d embarrassed him, and there was no coming back from that. He was understandably upset.

“I’m disappointed that you’d lie to us,” Dad said and Mom looked pleased.

“I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

I should have known it would though.

“I’m feeling a little tired. I’m going to take a nap in my room,” Grandma said.

We moved to assist her, but Grandmother held up her hand to stop us. “I can still walk.”

When she left, the room was quiet.

I couldn’t stay here. I’d betrayed my family, and now the estate would surely go up for sale after her death. I needed to create my new life now. I couldn’t wait for my family to decide my fate anymore. “I’m going to look for a place to live.”

“You’re moving out?” Mother asked me, as if she was genuinely surprised.

“The estate will be sold eventually. I’m not going to hang around to see it happen.” It would hurt too much. “I need to start the next chapter of my life.” The one where I was single and supporting myself. I wouldn’t use my name or the estate this time.

“I don’t think Grandmother meant for you to move out.”

My brow furrowed. “She’s going to give the estate to charity. There’s nothing left for me.”

Mom leaned forward. “You’re going to walk away from your social media following?”

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