Chapter 30
Chapter
Thirty
ADAM
I put the call on speakerphone and hold the phone between us so Isabelle can hear, as well. “Jim? What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been calling you for three days,” he says, anger dripping from his words. “Why have neither of you picked up?”
I look at Isabelle, whose guilty expression likely mimics mine. “We’ve been…busy,” I finally say.
“Whatever you’ve been doing isn’t as important as this. Tristan Jackson has been running a smear campaign against you. And now the production company wants to pull you from the movie.”
“Wait, which one of us?” Isabelle asks.
“Adam,” Jim replies.
My stomach sinks. I shouldn’t be surprised, but in truth, I didn’t think there was a possibility of me losing this role. Jim swore he had the production company’s confirmation.
Isabelle’s eyes turn wide as she meets my gaze. “What is Tristan saying?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” I say sharply. “That I’m unfit to act for a family-friendly network with my reputation.”
Isabelle’s expression turns to fury. “Dad? Is that true? ”
We hear him huff a sigh through the speaker. “Yes. That’s exactly what he’s saying. Along with the mystery of Adam’s scar. Adam, you know I can’t spin that one in a positive way.”
“I’m aware,” I mutter.
“And without any information about why you punched him, I can’t spin that either,” Jim continues.
“Adam,” Isabelle says softly, her eyes on mine. “You have to come forward. What he’s doing now is a direct attack on you.”
I shake my head. “It’s in the contract. I can’t.”
“Isn’t this slander? Defamation of character?” Isabelle asks her dad.
“He’s not saying anything that isn’t true,” Jim answers. “He’s calling out your reputation, making himself look like a victim for being attacked at the Goldies, and saying that you’ve got the scars now to prove your bad reputation. Unfortunately, he caught the ear of the production company, and they want him instead.”
I clench my jaw. “So not only are they pulling me, but they want him instead?”
“That’s what it looks like,” Jim answers.
Anger boils within me. This man has cost me my savings, ruined my sister’s life, and now he’s directly coming for me. Taking EVERY good thing that has ever happened to me—and now, that includes Isabelle.
And there’s nothing I can do about it.
I let out a frustrated sound, something like a growl, and hand Isabelle the phone. I start pacing around the ballroom; I can’t take part in this conversation anymore.
“Isabelle, you need to come home,” Jim says. “We need to at least show that you’re ready to do the movie.”
“I’m not doing it without Adam,” she says.
I turn back to Isabelle. “Yes, you are. ”
“No, I’m not.” She doesn’t back down from my glare. “Not after what you’ve told me about Tristan.”
“What do you know about Tristan?” Jim interjects.
“Nothing!” I bark. “She knows nothing.” I narrow my eyes at her. “You swore you wouldn’t tell.”
She shakes her head. “I know. But this is going too far.”
“No!” I pace away from her, running a hand through my hair. “You will not ruin your own career and reputation for the sake of mine.” I walk back to her and grab the phone. “Jim, Isabelle will see you tomorrow. Thank you for the call.” I hang up before he can say anything else and hand the phone to Lionel. Taking her hands in mine, I look down at her. I take a steadying breath and soften my voice. “You are going to take the role. You will act with Tristan, and you’ll have your first big break.”
Her eyes are wet with unshed tears. She shakes her head. “No. I won’t do it. I can’t.”
“You can,” I insist. “You’re an incredible actress. I know you can do it. And it will all be worth it in the end.”
“But what about you?” she presses. “This movie was supposed to be your return to acting. You need this role.”
She’s right. I know she is. But I can’t let her see how desperate I was to act again. “I’ll be fine.”
“No. We’re going to fight this. We’ll make sure everyone knows that Tristan is wrong.”
“He’s not wrong!” I cry out, stepping back from her. I gesture at my face. “You don’t even know what happened when I got this scar.”
She gives her head a tiny shake.
“I was drunk, Isabelle.” I laugh. “I was drunk, depressed out of my mind, and miserable that Tristan had ruined Lily. And I decided to drive my car down the mountain to see her.” I gesture out toward the window. “You know how treacherous the drive is. Only an idiot would attempt to do it while intoxicated.”
“So you made a mistake,” Isabelle says. “We all do. But I think it’s pretty clear that you’ve learned to do better.”
“Is it?” I shake my head. “That’s who I am, can’t you see? I’m still that same man. I’m selfish and arrogant and?—”
“No, you’re not.” Isabelle takes my hands in hers. Her soft touch is enough to calm me down. “Someone who’s truly selfish and arrogant wouldn’t say those words about themselves. You’re a little rough around the edges, but we all are in our own ways.” She rests her gentle hands on my face, and I close my eyes, allowing myself a moment to revel in her touch on my cheeks. “You’re protective. Caring. A little aggressive and arrogant?—”
I snort a laugh, despite myself.
“But that’s just the exterior. In here,” she places one hand on my heart, “is a generous man who will do anything to keep his loved ones safe.”
She reaches up and kisses me softly. When she says these things, I can almost believe her words.
Almost.
She pulls back. “You can fight this, Adam. We can fight this together.”
I shake my head at her. “I’ve lost the fight, Isabelle. I’m past redemption. But you’re not.” I hold her tightly around the waist with one arm, using my other hand to cradle her cheek. “You don’t need to drag yourself down with me. I’ve ruined my chance for the future, but I want you to go. Leave me and this place, and be happy.”
Her eyes glisten with tears. “I don’t want to act with Tristan,” she says. “I wanted to do the movie with you.”
Each word she says pierces into my heart. How far we’ve come from our first meeting, and how far we’re about to fall. But I put on a brave face, like the actor I am.
“Trust me, that’s what I wanted, too. But you can manage. In your career, you’ll have to act with plenty of people you don’t like. It’ll be good practice.” I lift the side of my mouth, the best attempt I can make at a smile. “I can’t wait to see how you do.”
“Won’t you come with me?” she pleads.
I shake my head, stroking her cheek with my thumb. “I’m done. There’s nothing left for me in LA. I’ll just stay here at the castle until I get my things in order, and then…I’ll have to figure out my plan for the future.”
“Maybe your brother will help you out,” she offers.
“Probably.” I don’t tell her that the idea of returning home with my tail between my legs makes me want to cringe. But maybe that’s part of the redemption I need. “You should go to bed.”
“I don’t want to,” she whispers. “Let’s just spend the night watching movies together. Our last few hours in a bubble.”
Her offer tugs at my heart, but I can’t. I need to sever the ties between us sooner rather than later.
I want to be with Isabelle. I’ve fallen for her—no, I’m in love with her. And I’ve never truly been in love before. But loving someone means sacrificing your own happiness for theirs. Isabelle will never be happy if she loses herself to protect me.
Life with her in the castle has been almost perfect. As much as I want to keep up this paradise, she deserves more. Isabelle deserves her time in the spotlight. She deserves the attention and praise that will come her way, as soon as she gets her opportunity to shine.
So I shake my head again. “I don’t want to keep you awake when you have to drive down the mountain tomorrow.” I kiss her forehead, lingering there and taking one last inhale of her soft skin. This is goodbye .
When I pull away, two tears are tracing down her cheeks. She opens her eyes, her wet lashes shining in the candlelight, and she has fire in her eyes. “I won’t give up, Adam.” She grabs me tightly, burying her head in my chest.
If I don’t leave now, I never will. I remove myself from her grasp and turn around before she can convince me to stay. My heart feels like it’s been ripped in two. First Tristan takes Lily, and now he takes Isabelle. But perhaps it’s what I deserve after everything I’ve done, selfishly ignoring my family for years. Who am I to think I deserve someone as kind, gentle, and compassionate as Isabelle?
She deserves more than me.