64. Bad to Worse
64
BAD TO WORSE
WYATT
T he walk to Theo’s first day of his new term at school did not go as planned. I received a phone call from the nanny. She’d fled with Theo because the press were parked at his school . No longer could they walk there. I sent the driver to pick them up and take them. Theo was a mess since he got to school late. Paranoid, I told Stephen to hire security so that she’d be safe when she picked him up.
Odette and I hadn’t even confirmed we were together, and Theo was already at risk. She’d left early—something that killed me—to spare us this, but it hadn’t mattered. They were out for blood. Photos of the two of us together sold like hotcakes. Worse, pictures of us cosily watching Theo enjoy his party while Rick and his kids played in the background—were worth even more. It insinuated that not only was I with Odette, but we were serious.
Then, by midday, my life got even worse.
Stephen buzzed. “Sir, there is a phone call I believe you will want to take.”
“Stephen, I have no time for phone calls,” I said, not wanting to speak to anyone.
“Sir, it is a police officer from Saint Louis. They say it is urgent.”
My blood ran cold. I couldn’t speak. Everything was fuzzy and swirling. I realised this might be a break in the case. This might be the call I’d waited four years for. This could be it.
“Sir?”
“Patch him through,” I murmured as if in a daze.
“Hello?” I asked as the click signalled the person was on the line.
“Yes, Mr. Worthington?” A woman’s voice asked.
“Yes.”
“This is Natasha Powers, a St Louis Metro PD detective. I wanted to let you know that new information has emerged about your wife’s case.”
“Uh… yes.” I was numb, waiting to hear more.
“Sir, a person has come forward confessing to the crime.”
“What?”
“And the car she was driving is consistent with the car that sped away from the accident the morning your wife was killed.”
Still silent, my mind reeled. They had caught the person who killed Isla. Four years later, the person finally confessed. I couldn’t express what I felt. Was it excitement? Relief? Sadness? I didn’t know.
“Mr Worthington?”
“I’m here, Detective Powers. I… I am trying to process this.”
“I am sure it is both a relief and a surprise.”
“That is an understatement, yes. Why would this person speak four years later?”
“The situation is complicated and emerging. The prosecutor’s office is in the process of handling it but would like to speak to you. There is a possibility at sentencing that they will want victim impact statements. You can write to have someone else read, or you can attend the hearing. I will get you the details. Sentencing might be a ways off, but… many people find it brings closure to speak up.”
I rubbed my temples nervously. “Yes. I want to speak to the prosecutor in person to know more. I… I need a moment.”
“Of course. I left my information with your assistant. Feel free to call me back anytime to let me know your plans. Her preliminary hearing will be next week, and she’ll enter a guilty plea.”
“Thank you.”
Stephen immediately appeared in my doorway. “What was it? ”
“They caught the person who killed Isla,” I said, tears welling. “I’m going to need more than a minute.”
“Of course.”
Stephen disappeared back to his desk. I turned on the privacy filter and let out a sob. Everything flew through my head at once. I put my head between my legs, trying to combat the feeling that I might pass out at any moment. My phone buzzed beside me. I ignored it. After a good cry, I asked Stephen to get more coffee. He sent for more liquid energy. I tried to push through the rest of my day, refusing to talk about it.
Then, matters worsened as I pulled up the Neandia Gazette , its English-language newspaper.
Wyette is Fake
Speculation has run rampant for the past week that Wyatt Worthington and Princess Odette are dating. The rumours began when inside sources said Mr Worthington attended the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Westnedge three weeks ago as the guest of our fair Princess. Photographers then caught the two cosily chatting and laughing at a birthday party thrown for the billionaire’s son.
After over a week of speculation and constant scrutiny during Princess Odette’s tour of The Netherlands, the Palace finally released this statement:
Rumours of a relationship between Her Royal Highness Princess Odette and Mr Wyatt Worthington are nothing more than conjecture. Mr Worthington is a friend of the family, and his son is a friend of the Queen’s children. Princesses Ingrid and Odette attended the party with the Prince Consort and his children, as any friend might have done. We ask that you grant Mr Worthington and his son privacy at this time.
My blood boiled, and I saw red. What was wrong with Odette? Why the fuck would she have them print that—to deny our relationship? I felt like I suddenly didn’t matter at all to her. Before I could even speak, I dialled Odette on my work phone.
She answered immediately. “Wyatt, thank God. I saw photos of Theo this morning, and I’ve been trying?— ”
“Odette, what the fuck is wrong with you?” I asked.
“Wyatt, I’ve been calling you. Are you okay?” She sounded worried.
“I asked a question. Don’t answer with a question.”
“Wyatt, I am fine. The press has been atrocious, but I can do nothing about that—for myself. For Theo?—”
“Don’t talk about Theo. If we’re not together, Theo isn’t of concern to you.”
“Wyatt, I adore Theo. And… are we not together?”
“You just denied we were a couple on the record.”
“I had to. I couldn’t reach you, and when Alex told me he’d been chased at drop-off, I couldn’t hold on to that release. I had to do it to protect Theo.”
“So what now? How in the fuck do I see you? What was the game plan!?”
“Wyatt, please stop shouting.” Her voice grew tiny. Odette cried, “Please. I love you. Stop shouting at me.”
I felt terrible. I was a monster. This affected her as much as it did me.
“I don’t understand why you would do this, Odette.”
“Because I love you and Theo,” she sobbed.
“Clearly, you do not!”
“I do, I do. Wyatt, you make me so happy, but… this is a normal thing in royal circles?—”
“I cannot deal with all of this.”
She took a moment. I heard her crying and gave her time to speak.
“I know,” Odette sniffled. “I suppose that’s it then.”
“What is?”
“If you cannot deal with it, Wyatt, I don’t deserve to weigh you down.”
“Odette… that’s not what I meant.” My throat tightened. Tears crept into my eyes again.
“I… I don’t want to be the reason you cannot sleep at night. I don’t want to terrorise Theo. You deserve so much better than me.”
“Oh, Odette, no, please don’t say that!”
I regretted everything at that moment. I should never have called her whipped up over Isla. I took my anguish out on the woman who loved me so purely and adored Theo so much she’d deny herself the ability to tell the truth. I knew Odette longed to go public, but she put Theo above all else. Odette hated lies. She’d never deny our relationship for fun . She was doing the right thing for him. Or at least, she was doing what she thought was right.
“I loved loving you,” Odette’s voice broke. “I loved everything and want to love you even now… through this… but that’s selfish. Thank you for loving me. Please find someone better.”
“Odette, please don’t say that! Don’t hang?—”
The line went dead. She was gone.