Page 100 of Definitely Not Him

No Stone Unturned

Chloe

Seattle, Washington

24 weeks & 2 days pregnant

A Pregnant Mistress? The Ultimate Disgrace

How Does He Know The Babies are His?

A Class in Master Deception: How to Trap a Prince

No Need to Fantasize About a Wedding Dress. We Know This Bride Can’t Wear White.

Cruel & Unusual

Chloe

24 weeks & 3 days pregnant

Seattle, Washington

“She was always jealous of Hazel,” Sandra said to a reporter on the afternoon news. “You know, for a long time, I thought we had a ‘hate the boss’ solidarity, but she was a snake this entire time.”

The reporter’s lips curved into a smile. “Care to tell us anything else you know about Chloe March? What about a quick tour of her office?”

People I hadn’t spoken to in years, former high school teachers and classmates I barely remembered, were feeding what little they knew about me to the press every chance they could get.

As much as I wanted to pretend like it didn’t hurt, every word they uttered cracked a new piece of my heart.

And yet, like a train wreck, I couldn’t look away from the carnage.

* * *

“Thanks for coming so late, Kristin.”I ushered her inside Tyler’s place around midnight. “I know you just came back from that live show, and I should’ve given you a day to get settled, but—”

“Shhh.” She pulled me into a hug as sobs wracked my chest. “You don’t have to explain anything to me, Chloe.”

She rubbed my back until I stopped crying, and I led her into the kitchen.

As if this was her place, she gestured for me to take a seat at the bar and opened cabinets in search of tea.

Turning on a kettle, she looked at me. “Spill.”

“They’re so mean and catty. Nothing is off-limits to these people.” I cried. “They found my old Facebook posts even though I deleted my profile. They’re finding my old boyfriends, and they just…They’re making me look a like slut, like I’m a bad, unhinged person who stole him away.”

She poured me a cup of tea as I continued to ramble, never interrupting, never judging.

“And I mean, it’s just not how I thought my final months of pregnancy would be. I think that just made it twenty times worse.” I took a long sip. “That’s it. I’m out of words.”

“Well, before I say anything, do me a favor.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and tapped the screen.

Madison and her top employee were sitting in a car.

“Is Chloe okay?” she asked. “Have you reached her yet?”

“I’m here with her now.” Kristin tilted her phone to toward me. “Can you tell them which cars belong to Hazel?”