Paige shook her head.
“You told me the divorce paperwork was delayed because she was fighting over money.”
My stomach twisted.
Evan looked at me.
“Brooke, I can explain.”
“No, you can’t.”
“I made mistakes.”
“Seven months isn’t a mistake.”
People in the crowd had gone completely silent.
Evan lowered his voice.
“Can we not do this publicly?”
Paige stared at him.
“You introduced me to people tonight as your wife.”
“I was trying to avoid questions.”
“What questions?”
“Paige—”
“What questions, Evan?”
Grant stepped between them.
“Perhaps questions like why one of my directors has been using supposed business travel to conduct an a.f.f.a.i.r with my daughter while lying to both women involved.”
Evan froze.
“You knew?”
Grant’s expression turned cold.
“I learned approximately forty minutes ago.”
Paige looked stunned.
“You didn’t know he was married?”
Grant pointed toward me.
“She arrived here and introduced herself as Evan’s wife.”
Paige covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
I could see the truth landing.
She wasn’t my enemy.
She was another person Evan had built a fictional life around.
Paige turned toward me.
“I swear I didn’t know.”
“I believe you.”
Evan looked horrified.
Perhaps because he had expected us to fight each other.
That would have been easier for him.
Two angry women blaming each other instead of looking at the man who had deceived both.
Paige wiped her eyes.
“He told me you cheated on him.”
I felt something inside me go cold.
“He told you what?”
“He said that’s why the marriage ended.”
Evan stepped toward us.
“Everybody needs to calm down.”
Paige recoiled.
“Don’t touch me.”
“I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
“I needed time.”
“For what?”
He had no answer.
Then, perhaps realizing he had lost her, Evan made the worst possible choice.
He turned toward me.
“Brooke, come on. You know I love you.”
Paige stared at him.
I almost couldn’t believe it.
“You brought another woman here as your wife and now you’re telling me you love me?”
“It got out of control.”
Paige laughed once through her tears.
“Out of control?”
Evan looked increasingly desperate.
“What Paige and I had wasn’t serious.”
