Page 113 of Love Me Forever

"Are those outside guests?" I pointed at the glass front of the hotel.

Travis set his mouth in a firm line, adjusting a cuff link that hadn't needed any adjustments. "No, that's the press." He was clearly not thrilled about having them here.

Tim stepped up to us. "Finally, you’re down. Reese called you a few times."

"Yeah, I figured it would be better if we just hurried instead of answering the call," Travis said.

He looked between the two of us, and my stomach bottomed out. Whatever he had to say wasn't good. "Listen, there's been a development. There's unusual interest in Bonnie."

I swallowed hard. "Me? How could that be? How do they even know about me?"

"Your mother made a statement today."

I stiffened. I felt as if I'd fallen into a frozen pool. “My mother,” I parroted. I’d called her a dozen times after she went to the hotel, but she didn’t answer. I took it as a sign that she was giving it a rest. "What did she say?"

"You didn't read it?"

"Read what?" Travis asked in a stern voice.

"The article. Reese told me about it an hour ago."

I closed my eyes, trying to draw in a deep breath. I felt nauseous. That was why she'd been calling both of us. "Can I look at it?" I asked.

"No," Travis replied.

I opened my eyes. "I want to see it."

"I don't have much experience with these things, but I don't think not knowing what it's about will make it easier if the press starts to ask questions," Tim said, taking out his smartphone from the jacket of his suit. He looked questioningly at Travis, who nodded.

He turned his phone toward us. I grabbed it, tapping the screen to zoom in. The title sent me into a tailspin: "Maxwell Heir Trapped by a Gold Digger." I wanted to throw up. My hand started shaking so much that I couldn't read the text. Travis grabbed my hand, steadying it, and we both read it carefully, scrolling down.

"Why would Mom do this?" I knew, of course, that she wasn't very fond of me. I'd accepted it. I'd also accepted that the only time she remembered she had a daughter was when she needed money. But she'd never actively done anything to harm me. Why now? Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Bonnie, I'll take care of this," Travis said.

I heard him as if from a distance.

"Sorry I'm late," Reese said. She came out from one of the back entrances. Sam was next to her.

"You showed them the article?" she guessed.

Tim nodded. "I'm sorry. I tried to warn you. I saw it a couple hours ago."

"Listen, it's nothing we should worry about," Reese said, "but I wanted everyone to be in the know."

Sam looked troubled.

"What is it?" I asked him.

"I'm not sure it's nothing. I passed a reporter, and the first question he asked me was what I thought about Bonnie banging my brother."

Bile rose up in my throat. I was going to be sick for sure.

Reese ran a palm over her head, as if she wanted to smooth her hair. She didn’t need to, though. It looked perfect. "Why would you say that in front of Bonnie?"

"It’s okay," I replied. "I don't want you to sugarcoat anything."

"Babe, please forget about the damn article," Travis said.

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