Page 175 of Daddy's Wild Girl

“She made up the stalker and sent the messages to me in the hopes that I’d move home. To create drama for the show. And God knows what other reasons. I’m guessing they released the information about the show too early, or at least my part in it.”

“I’d also guess she’s been shielding all of that from you, Benton,” Corbin added. “Erasing messages and paying off or threatening your personal assistant.”

“You can’t believe this, Benton!” Barb said.

“There were a few comments from reporters about Bebe’s return to the screen, but I ignored them. I thought they were trying to get a rise from me. But it’s true, isn’t it? You really thought to get Bebe back in the show by threatening her? And you hired someone to attack her?” her father demanded.

Benton moved away from Barb, and she could see the panic in her mother’s face. But, honestly, Bebe couldn’t feel any sympathy for her.

“Fine! I did it. I sent the messages. And I also used your assistant to redirect calls from her and Corbin. All of her calls and texts came to my phone. My ratings are down the tube, the network is threatening to drop them all and will only considerThe Benner Lifewith Bebe back. She won’t do it because I’m her mother, so I thought I’d force her home. And add some drama because that’s what people want. What I did not factor in was you hiring bodyguards or her falling for one of them! But the person I hired to attack you was supposed to do it after the bodyguards left! On camera! He won’t get paid.”

They were all silent.

Her mother, obviously realizing what she’d just revealed, turned ghostly pale and spun to her father. “Benton?—”

“Save it,” he said in the coldest voice Bebe had ever heard from him. “Get out. Now.”

“Benton—” she said hastily.

“No, Barb. Get out. Now. Before I do something I regret.”

Barb, because she was no longer her mother, glared at her. “I hope you’re happy!”

“What about this would make me happy?” Bebe asked. “To learn that my own mother is happy to terrorize me? Nope. Nothing about this makes me happy.”

“All I ever tried to do was make you someone! Now, you’re with a bodyguard. You’re no one, Bluebelle! Certainly no daughter of mine.”

Well, that made two of them. Because she didn’t consider Barb her mother. Barb stormed out and her father stared at Bebe in horror.

“Bebe, I’m so sorry. I never saw what she was like with you . . .”

“I’ve tried to tell you over the years. You’ve never been interested in listening.”

“I’m listening now if you want to talk.”

“Maybe,” she said. “Not yet, though. We . . . we aren’t actually going public with the stalker. That was just a threat to get her attention. But I am staying here in Montana. With Corbin.”

“Understood,” her father said. “I will . . . I will try to call you soon, all right?”

She wasn’t holding out much hope, but she nodded. When the call ended, that’s when she broke.

Turning her head, she buried it in Corbin’s neck. He picked her up and settled her on his lap.

“It’s all right, baby. It’s all done now. And we know the truth. Let it out if you need to.”

She tried to hold it back, but she couldn’t. It was like a tide rushing out and there was no stopping it.

His poor girl.

She’d been brave for so long. But it was time for her to let go and allow him to care for her.

Turning her in his arms, he held her pressed to his chest, her legs hanging down on either side of his.

And he just held her.

45

Bebe felt so drained.

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