Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Saint smiles. “Allie—”
“Ladies and gentlemen!”
Shit. No, not yet! Dread explodes in my gut as I turn, panic filling my veins. Mom stands on the platform where the band sits, holding a microphone.
Her gaze sweeps the crowd assembled in front of her, a smile on her lips. “Thank you so much for being here this evening. So much work has gone into putting this event together, and it’s my hope that you’re all enjoying yourselves.” A soft applause ripples through the crowd before she continues. “You may have already heard through the grapevine about the announcement I had planned to make tonight.” She runs a hand along the side of her silver gown that sparkles a little with every movement. “But I figured the longer the evening goes on, the less of a surprise it becomes, so I thought I might as well let the cat out of the bag now. More time for us to celebrate, right?”
Excited murmuring fills the air, and more than a few people turn to me with wide smiles. It’s impossible to continue the act when out of the corner of my eye, I spot Kade standing off to the side, glaring daggers at her. He’s too close to her. Shit.
Mom waits a beat for the murmuring to die down. “I’m very happy to announce to all of you—”
“Excuse me!” A voice interrupts.
God no. I gasp when Kade steps onto the platform and pulls the microphone from Mom’s fist before she can react. She mutters something under her breath, but the microphone doesn’t catch it, and Kade doesn’t give a shit what she has to say.
Turning his attention to the crowd, he smiles.
“What she wanted to tell you,” Kade announces in a loud, clear voice, “is that it turns out she’s so very blessed with both a daughter and a son. Yours truly.”
“Kade, no,” I whisper under my breath, unaware that I’ve gotten up and started walking toward the stage.
His gaze locks on me, and I swear his grin grows. “That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. I, Kade Bishop, am also a Porter. The great Roman Bishop had an affair with Emma Porter, and you’re looking at the result.” He holds out his arms, splashing what’s left in his glass over the rim while Mom signals for someone, anyone, to help. “And I’ve decided I’m going to take my place as part of the Porter empire!”
By now, I can barely hear his voice over everyone murmuring around me.
Is it true? Is he crazy? Is it just another Bishop interference?
If they are talking to me, I don’t stop to find out.
“Allie!” Mr. Lowry intercepts me as all hell breaks loose, his hand closing around my elbow. “Is this true? What’s happenin’?” I latch onto the concern flickering in his eyes.
“I honestly don’t know,” I lie even though it would be much easier to spill the truth. “I need to talk to my mom.”
Panic bubbles up in my chest, and I swear I might actually start screaming.
“You look like you’re about to have a mental breakdown, sweetheart.” He has no idea. Raising his arm overhead, he snaps his fingers. “I know you want to talk to your mom, but it might be better if you get out of here. Like magic, Jackson appears at our side.
“Take her home. She doesn’t need to deal with any more problems tonight.” Even now, in the middle of all this horror and disappointment—because I am so upset with Kade that I can barely breathe—part of me wonders if Joseph wants us out of here to ease some of the scandal. Like he doesn’t want his name tied to any of this right now.
“I feel like I should stay with Mom,” I tell Jackson as he steers me away from the converging chaos.
“She would want you safe,” he assures, waiting for me while I grab my purse. As soon as I have it, he drags me out of the room.
My chest hurts, my head is pounding, and I think I might throw up.
At least the roar of those voices fades once we’re outside. With the decrease in volume, the tightness in my chest loosens.
“I can’t believe he did that,” I whisper while Jackson leads me to a black Lamborghini. I’m completely numb as he helps me inside. Is this what shock feels like?
Once he’s behind the wheel, he glances at me and starts the engine. “Is what he said true?”
“I don’t want to talk about it. Please, Jackson,” I beg as he pulls the car away.
“It’s a good thing I rented my own car tonight,” he notes as the country club fades behind us. “I thought I might drive around after the gala, see if anything interesting is going on.”
“You wouldn’t have found anything,” I murmur, staring out the window.
Dammit. Kade fucked everything up tonight. God, he used to complain about his father saying that to him so often, and now I can’t help but agree with that asshole Roman Bishop. And the thought pisses me off even more.