We Ran From Our Babies' Fathers, Then One Toddler Went Viral novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: Ask Me in a Year

The photos were online before I had my shoes on.

Bridget brought me her phone in the hall, white-faced, with a news site open.

The headline was in red.

GOLD-DIGGER WHO FLED WITH THE ALDRIDGE HEIR NOW IN HIS BEDROOM.

Under it was a long-lens picture of the east wing window.

It showed Preston's shoulder.

It showed my hand on the shutter, in a sheet, with my hair wild.

"Oh, no," Bridget whispered. "Hannah. Oh, no."

"It's fine."

"It's not fine. Look at the quote."

I scrolled.

Mrs. Aldridge, speaking from the roadside, had said: "This woman made a public speech to cover her tracks, and now she's moved into my son's home and his bed. I only pray my granddaughter isn't being used as a bargaining chip."

I read the last line three times.

A bargaining chip.

My daughter.

My vision went red at the edges.

"I'm going to kill her."

"Wait until after breakfast," Bridget said, very gently, and then spoiled it by snorting.

I heard footsteps.

Preston came down the hall in a clean shirt with his phone in his fist.

He had seen it.

"I'm sorry," he said immediately. "I was the one who went to the window. This is on me."

"It's on her."

"It's on both of us. I should've seen her coming."

"You can't see a woman who owns the road."

"Marry me," Preston said.

I stared at him.

Bridget, very quietly, backed out of the hall.

"What?"

"Marry me. Today, in a courthouse, tomorrow in church, whichever you like. It would end the story. Nobody can call you a gold-digger if..."

"If I'm your wife."

"Yes."

"No."

He blinked.

"No?"

"Preston." I took a breath. "I like you. I like you more than I'm happy about. And if you ask me again in a year, I might say yes. But I'm not marrying you to fix a headline. I'd be answering her instead of living my own life."

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