***Bethany’s Pov***
I was so exhausted that all I wanted to do was sleep. Slowly approaching my bed, I quickly turned off all of the lights. I enjoyed sleeping in the dark because it gave me peace of mind that no one was watching me. Jillian was already snoring when I arrived earlier, and I had to shower first before I could touch her.
I was lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling, when I considered calling Jacob but decided against it because it wouldn't make a difference. In my dream, however, I was visited by the man with whom I fell in love five years ago. No, it was a nightmare from which I awoke drenched in sweat!
I observed that it was only four o'clock in the morning after glancing at the clock. My hands went to my eyes and rubbed them as if there were sand inside, and I walked towards the bathroom to wash my face while squinting.
After washing my face, I decided to check my phone. Actually, I usually read the latest news or happenings on my phone, and the headlines caused my eyes to widen. My face was also on the news, along with Jacob, and the write-ups were cruel. A mistress he kept on the island? God, I just couldn’t believe those people who would love to write lies for money.
As I read some of the cruel remarks about Jacob, I cringed. While staring at my phone and biting the inside of my lower lip, I feel sorry for him. At the same time, I was worried about myself. The public wouldn’t take it lightly especially when he’s an Alpha, and her current Luna was the daughter of a powerful man. I contemplated calling him multiple times but ultimately decided not to be bothered by his response.
In comparison to the scandal involving the lobbying and bribery, they used to complete a project, the articles about his sexual orientation received the most vicious responses. Someone asserted that I was one of the women he secretly kept on the island.
After massaging my temple, I proceeded to read the comments section. My name was frequently mentioned, and I was cursed for having an affair with a married man! I felt so terrible over the write-ups about me and Jacob Summers. Then, I realized that my face was exposed on the paper! It would just be a matter of time before my father would hear about it. Anyway, I shouldn’t worry about him. When I glanced at my sleeping daughter, I made a hasty decision.
“Jessica, wake up. Jessica!”
Jessica rubbed her eyes as soon as she opened them, and squinted them against the light. “Bethany, what is it?” She asked in a sleepy voice.
“You need to leave this place right now. Take Jillian with you to Dale’s resort!” I commanded and then my phone rang while I was trying to explain to Jessica. “Dale, what is it?”
“This place might be exposed after the news broke, Bethany. You need to leave,” he said.
“I was about to call you, Dale. Can Jessica and Jillian stay at the resort for the time being? I don’t want them to know about my daughter, Dale.”
“I understand. Hurry up and pack their things, I will be there in a jiffy,” Dale promised.
Jessica was confused but she didn’t question me about what happened and just helped me in packing their things. “I will be there once everything is okay. Promise me, Jessica. Take care of Jillian while it’s just the two of you.”
“Don’t worry, Bethany. I will take good care of your daughter, but how about her school?”
“I will ask Dale to help me sort it,” I replied.
“What happened?”
Instead of explaining, I took her phone and searched for my name online, and then I showed it to her. She gasped in surprise, and finally understood why I was in a hurry. I couldn’t afford anyone to locate me since it would be dangerous. I didn’t know about my father, but regardless of what transpired between us, he wouldn’t be pleased if he would read the news about me.
An hour later, I accompanied Jessica and Jillian into Dale’s car. Fortunately, my daughter was too sleepy to wonder about what was going on, and the moment they were in the backseat, Jessica tried to make her sleep. Tears began to well up around my eyes as I saw them leaving but I couldn’t risk my daughter’s identity being exposed.
I took a deep breath before going back inside, and to calm my nerves, I went to get a cup of coffee, but I didn’t expect to have a visitor as early as five thirty in the morning.
“Hi. May I help you?” I asked the woman when I opened the door.
“You must be, Miss Middleton, right?” She asked.
I replied, “Yes, you're correct.”
“You must be surprised to see me here so early in the morning,” she remarked.
“Not really,” I lied.
“I'd like to have a private conversation with you about something vital,” she said.
I raised my eyebrows at the woman when she mentioned her employer. I was astounded by the speed with which his company mobilized its resources to contain the damage, and it was a little frightening! “How did you know that I reside here?” I was terrified when I discovered that someone knew my home address. What if they retaliated and inflicted harm on my mother?
She responded, “The CEO gave it to me.”
Even more terrifying was the possibility that Jacob himself had leaked the information!
“Should I anticipate your arrival with trepidation?” She was taken aback by my forthrightness because I didn't sugarcoat the words I spoke.
“I did not intend to cause you any harm, Miss Middleton. The chairman asked if I could persuade you to deny the rumors about you and him,” she began.
Five minutes after the woman had left, my phone rang with an unidentified number. Perhaps it's Jacob Summers. Impossible! He couldn't be that quick, right? “Hello?” I answered the phone when it rang.
“This is me,” he said on the other end of the line.
When I heard his husky voice, I was immediately transported to five years ago, when he would frequently call me late at night. I was unable to utter his name, so I stammered, “H-hi. A-Are you okay?” I immediately regretted asking him that question.
“And what about you? What do you think about this?” I could tell by his tone that he was exhausted and defeated when he inquired.
He must have been affected by the negative publicity, and I felt compelled to console him. I said “I'm sorry” even though I didn't have to.
“Bethany, do it in person. Let's meet tonight at 7:00 pm,” he stated. “Will you be working today?” He asked. "Wait, I am driving. I will call you back."
I furrowed my brows because it but I decided to ignore it and called Jessica instead. I needed to be sure that my daughter is safe.
But he called again.
“Open the door.”
Fortunately, I wasn't in Dale's home or he would know that Dale has been helping me all these years.