After His Mistress Framed Me, My Husband Lost Everything novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Livestream

My mother called before I had finished my coffee.

"That nice man paid the pharmacy," she said. "All of it. I was standing at the counter with my purse open, and the girl said it was already taken care of."

"Mom, I told him no favors."

"Deanna Ann Dunleavy."

"I know."

"I'm going to say this once. My heart doesn't care about your pride. Say thank you and eat a muffin."

I looked across the porch at Wyatt.

He was leaning on the rail with his coffee, pretending he couldn't hear.

"Thank you," I said to him, when she'd hung up.

"I didn't do it for you," he said. "I did it for her."

"That's the only reason I'm saying it."

His mouth twitched.

Then he looked at the phone in my hand, and his face went flat.

"Don't answer it," he said. "Four million people have seen that photo. You answer it, and it's four more."

"They've already decided what I am."

"Then let them."

"No," I said. "I let Gavin choose what everyone sees of me for eight years."

I set the mug down.

"I'm going to the tower."

We drove back to the city with the radio off.

It was Saturday, and the glass lobby of Hallstrom Home Systems was lit and empty, except for a security guard behind a desk.

I stood on the wide stone steps outside with my phone held out in front of me.

A local reporter I recognized from the gala was already waiting at the bottom, with a cameraman.

Someone had told her.

I thought I knew who, and I found I didn't mind.

"I'm going live," I said, to the phone and to her. "My name is Deanna Hallstrom. I have eight minutes before the guard calls the police, so I'll be quick."

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