Page 144 of Wild Blades

“I have dreams about you,” I confess, kissing the top of her head. “Did your father tell you before he died?”

She nods. “He wanted me to reach out to you. He wanted me to know I wasn’t alone in this world. He had so many regrets, Wade, about how he treated you and separated us. He wanted me to let you know how sorry he was before he died.”

A billion questions swirl around in my brain.

“You’re not alone, Lola. I’m here.” I have a sister. I can’t believe it. Which can mean only one thing. “Did he find out she was having an affair with Marcus? Is that why they split us up?” I ask Lola and not the two idiots I appear to have as parents.

“It’s complicated. I can explain everything.”

“It’s all over the news, Wade,” Kali says from my side.

“What do you mean?”

Lola covers her face as if embarrassed. “Graham sold my story to the press.”

I take Kali’s phone out of her hand, and scroll down the page of the open browser that shows dozens and dozens of news articles and headlines staring back at me.

Wade Collins revealed Marcus Edwards’ ‘secret son’

Marcus Edwards fathered secret love child with ‘Rich and Reckless in Canada’ star Miranda Collins

Eagles star Wade Collins shunned by his business tycoon father Marcus Edwards

DNA test confirms Eagles Owner, Marcus Edwards, Wade Collins' father

Shock ripples down my spine.

“You weren’t meant to find out like this.” Kali’s words stop me scrolling.

“You knew?” My tone is thunderous as shock turns to fury.

Kali’s eyes shimmer with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry, Wade. I wanted to tell you but?—”

“You didn’t.” I shoot her a cold look. “Did he pay you to keep quiet, too? Is that what pulling a support team together for me was all about?”

“It was never like that,” she counters icily, looking furious.

“Was I a publicity stunt for you? Some sort of charity case? Help Wade Collins the fuck up? You made me believe you loved me,” I shout, my words booming through the house, as sorrow seeps into my bones for speaking to her the way I am. I hate myself right now.

Her face crumbles. “I do love you.”

“You sure about that? Was making me fall in love with you all part of the plan too? To distract me from discovering the truth?”I feel like such a fool.

“I didn’t tell you to protect you.” Her voice is much louder now, eyes blazing.

“Protect me?” I turn the screen around to show her the headlines. “Thisis protecting me?”

“Marcus and I agreed to wait until the season was over. We were working out a plan of how to tell you and Nicki. The team.”

That doesn’t make me feel any better. “Because the team’s reputation takes priority over people’s feelings. It’s always about the fucking team.”

And poor Nicki. I hope she divorces Marcus and takes him to the cleaners.

“Wade, it wasn’t like that. I promise you it wasn’t.” She grabs at my arms, reaching up to try and get me to look at her, but I can’t. She betrayed me. “You were getting your life back on track and learning to live without Gretchen. I love you. I do.” Her voice trails off, and when I look at her again silent tears are falling down her cheeks. “Please believe me.”

I suddenly feel weak and vulnerable.

I don’t know who to believe anymore.

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