Chapter Thirteen
Cal stared at her, the words still hanging between them like some final, immovable truth.
“You should let me go,” he repeated. There was only one answer to that. “Bullshit. That is not going to happen.”
Someone was trying to tear them apart. Someone was trying to punish them. Someone wanted them to believe this whole mess, from the video to the scandal to the endless town gossip, was too big to fight.
Cal knew better. This was just another bull. Wild, unpredictable, and doing everything it could to throw him.
But he had held on before. He could hold on now.
He crossed the room to Willa and met her eyes without hesitation. “You are not walking away, and I am not letting you go. I don’t know who is behind this, but we are going to find out. And when we do, they’ll regret the hell out of it.”
Because this fight was one ride he had no intention of losing.
Willa shook her head, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Cal, you don’t get it. I don’t want you ruined over this. You’ve worked hard to build your business. You could lose everything.”
Cal’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw another text from Darlene. He opened it quickly.
Got another complaint. Customer saw the video, said it was unprofessional. Wants to pull out of a deal.
His jaw clenched. It was exactly what Willa had been afraid of. Exactly what someone was counting on.
“I’m not walking,” Cal grumbled. “I can take a hit.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” Willa said, her voice rising. “I’m telling you to go.”
“Not happening.”
Fia spoke up from across the room, already scrolling through her phone. “I can help track who posted the video first. I know some tech people. Maybe we can trace it back.”
Delia nodded as she grabbed her laptop from the counter. “I can check local social groups, gossip chains, things like that. Someone knows something.”
Cal’s father, who had been quietly listening, crossed his arms and gave a slow, deliberate nod. “If this comes down to busting some balls, you just let me know.”
That pulled the smallest laugh from Cal, even though the tension was thick in the room.
Willa rubbed her forehead like the weight of all of it was pressing down on her. She was still in it, still here with them, but Cal could see the crack in her determination. She still wanted him to leave. She thought she was protecting him.
He wasn’t going anywhere.
They all sat around the table, phones open, food abandoned as they dove into the search.
Willa did not argue anymore, but Cal could see it written all over her face. She still wasn’t sold on this notion of fighting.
Mason leaned forward, drumming his fingers on the table.
“What about Misty, Lark and Sawyer’s assistant?
Has anyone considered that she might be the masked woman?
” That got everyone’s attention, and they all shifted toward him.
“I’ve heard things. Brent’s been seeing her, yeah, but I’ve also heard he’s just using her. ”
Delia’s eyes narrowed. “Using her how?”
“Word is Brent’s trying to get Misty to push Sawyer and Lark into featuring his rental properties more,” Mason spelled out. “He wants them to tie his name to their vlog, boost his bookings. It would be huge for his business if they started recommending his places across their platform.”
“And Misty has access to their social accounts, right?” Fia asked. “She could have leaked both videos.”
Mason nodded. “Exactly. If Brent convinced her it would somehow help him, she might’ve done it.”
Cal’s stomach tightened. “So Brent could be stringing her along, feeding her promises, and letting her take the fall if this backfires.”
“Sounds like him,” Willa muttered.
Delia set her wine glass with a thud. “That snake.”
Fia tapped her phone quickly. “I can ask around, see if Misty’s been bragging about Brent or dropping hints about boosting his business. If she’s been playing both sides, someone might have caught wind of it.”
Cal leaned back, his gaze sliding to Willa. “It’s starting to make sense.”
She didn’t say anything, but she wasn’t arguing anymore either. She was in this now, whether she wanted to be or not.
Cal pulled out his phone and quickly searched Misty’s social media profiles.
There were plenty of photos, more than enough to get a solid look at her.
Most were selfies with Lark and Sawyer, some behind-the-scenes shots of their vlog setups, and a few full-length pictures of Misty standing with other people for scale.
His stomach sank as he swiped through.
“Well, hell,” he muttered.
Willa glanced over at him. “What?”
Cal turned the phone so everyone could see. “Misty’s tall. Probably a couple inches taller than me in heels. She’s got a solid, muscular build. There’s no way she’s the woman in that video.”
That brought on a variety of grumblings from around the table.
Mason rubbed the back of his neck. “So if it wasn’t Misty, we’re back to square one?”
Cal’s jaw tightened. “Not quite. I still think Brent’s involved with it somehow. Even if Misty wasn’t in the video, Brent could have found someone else.”
“Someone willing to help him stir up this much trouble?” Willa asked.
“Yeah,” Cal agreed. “Someone who had a reason to want to hurt you.”
Willa’s eyes flicked up to his. “You’re talking about Eden.”
Cal nodded. “I am now.” He pushed back from the table and stood. “I’m going to see her.”
The others immediately stood with him, like they were ready to storm the gates.
He held up his hand. “No. I should do this solo. If all of us show up, she’ll get defensive, probably play the victim, and I’ll get nothing out of her.”
Delia frowned, shook her head but muttered an agreement and added, “I still don’t like it.”
“I don’t either,” Fia said. “You sure you don’t want backup?”
Cal smiled at her. “If I’m not back in an hour, you can come charging in, maybe with a drone. Or with Edgar, the seagull.”
Fia smiled just a little. “Done,”
Cal’s gaze drifted to Willa. She hadn’t said anything, but her eyes were full of all the words she was holding back. He could see she didn’t like this plan, but she wasn’t stopping him either.
He crossed to her, cupped her face gently, and kissed her. It was just long enough to feel her lean into him, just long enough to make it hard to leave.
“I’ll be back,” he said, his voice low.
“And if you’re not, I’ll understand why,” she whispered back.
Cal groaned but started moving. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he pulled it out and glanced at the screen, he saw it was yet another complaint text from Darlene.
Hell, this wasn’t letting up. He slipped the phone back into his jacket and went out the door. Even if he got Eden to admit what she’d done, even if the video got pulled, the damage was already in motion. The story was out there. His name was tied to the mess. The fallout was coming.
But that was a fight for later.
Right now, he had a confession to chase down.
Cal climbed into his rental car and pulled out his phone to search for Eden’s address.
He had been so focused on the Seaglass and the mess unfolding there that he hadn’t even thought to ask where she lived.
A quick search pulled it up. She had a house on the edge of town, tucked close to the curve of the beach.
The drive was short, but his mind spun the entire way. He replayed the videos, the conversations, the tangled web Eden had been weaving since the moment he had limped back into her life. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he turned onto her street.
Her house was exactly what he should have expected. Sleek, modern lines, tall windows that overlooked the beach, a wide porch with crisp white columns, and a long stone driveway that curled past the front door. She had done well for herself.
As he pulled in, he noted the cars three cars parked there. So she wasn’t alone. That could either work in his favor or make things harder, but at least she was home.
Cal killed the engine and stepped out. The salty breeze rolled in strong from the ocean, the sound of waves crashing in the distance. Part of him wondered if she would even open the door. If she would see him standing there and slam it shut in his face.
He took the steps two at a time and knocked. His patience had limits. Today they were hanging by a thread.
Eden answered the door, her surprise flickering for only a second before she smoothed it over with a smile. She looked effortlessly put together, her hair glossy, her dress stylish but casual like she had just been entertaining without a care in the world.
“Well, Cal,” she said sweetly. “What a surprise. I have guests. Would you like to join us for dinner?”
“No.” His tone left no room for pleasantries. “Step out here with me.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she obliged, stepping onto the porch. He pulled the door shut behind her, cutting off the low hum of conversation from inside.
The wind tugged at the hem of her dress. She crossed her arms loosely, as if amused but not fully comfortable. “What’s this about?” she asked.
Cal wasted no time. “Are you in the video?”
Her brows drew together in a neat little frown. “What video?”
“The one that went viral. The one that is causing damage to Willa and me. The one filmed from the Driftwood Manor. The one you leaked.”
Eden let out a soft, dismissive laugh. “You think I leaked that? Cal, come on.”
“I’m asking you.”
“And I’m telling you. No, I didn’t leak anything. I’m not in any video, and I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His jaw clenched. “You expect me to believe that?”
She met his gaze, calm and cool. “Yes. Because it’s the truth.”
Cal studied her face, but Eden was good. If she was lying, she wore the lie well. But he wasn’t giving up yet. Not until he got more. Not until he pushed harder.
He yanked his phone from his jacket pocket and quickly pulled up the video. He froze the frame on the masked woman, holding it out for Eden to see.