She, the Kingdom (She #1)(57)
“She wanted you to fall for me,” I repeated.
Panic-stricken, he took off his ball cap and held it between his hands. “Don’t do that. You make it sound… I fell for you that day at the hospital, Morgan. I’ve been waiting ever since. You were married, then you were divorced, then I knew you’d never date a twenty-one-year-old kid. I had some growing up to do. Get a job. I had to deserve you, first. Mom always said a single mother wasn’t nothin’ to toy with. I knew I’d have to really step it up, but I’m worried…” he hesitated. “This is my fault.”
I narrowed my eyes, wary. “What’s your fault?”
“Everything that’s happening with the Kingstons. Max let it slip that he didn’t like me, and Sophie got this little camera thing to keep an eye on her husband when he was here. She offered me a hundred grand, Morgan. I didn’t think anyone would get hurt. I honestly didn’t, and I figured with that money, I could finally be in a position to take care of you and the kids.”
“Oh, God,” I said, feeling sick. I sat on the arm of the sofa, feeling dizzy. “You put the camera in my bedroom? When? When you fixed my air conditioner,” I said, answering my own question.
Colton twisted his ball cap. “It was so much money, Morgan. I thought if I just did it and got the money, I could take care of you, you wouldn’t need to be their surrogate, and once the agreement was over, I’d just remove the damn thing.”
“So you know everything? Why come over and ask?”
“What? No, I don’t know anything. I haven’t spoken to Sophie since she paid me the rest of the money.”
I covered my eyes with one hand, feeling a combination of rage, sadness, and betrayal. “Get out, Colton. And don’t come back.”
He was quiet for a few moments. “Morgan,” he said, stunned and hurt.
I let my hand fall away. “Do you understand that what you did was a total violation of my privacy? You helped Sophie Kingston spy on me. What you did is illegal.”
“I… I just thought…”
“I know what you thought. I don’t want to ever see you around my house again, do you understand me? Leave and don’t come back, or I’ll press charges.”
Colton’s bottom lip trembled while he searched for the right words to say. “Morgan. Please.”
“I’m so stupid! My AC goes out and you just happen to show up!”
“I’m sorry I lied to you.” He cowered under my glare. “I hate the way you’re looking at me right now. If you’d just understand why I did it, and that I’d just planned for it to be temporary. Once I got the money, we could be together, and I was going to remove the camera. I was trying to do the right thing by you and your kids. I didn’t want us to be in the same situation as my mom. That was all it was, Morgan. I swear to God.”
“You don’t get it,” I said. “You think because it got you some quick money it excuses what you did?”
He reached for me. “No, I do. If I could take it back, I would. I hate it that I hurt you.”
“You hate that you got caught,” I groaned.
“I didn’t get caught. I confessed. I’d planned on telling you the truth all along.”
I shook my head.
“It’s okay, now. I can remove the camera. I’ll do it right now.” He moved toward the hall.
“Get out!” I screamed, pointing to the door. When he didn’t move, I stomped over to the door and yanked it open.
His shoulders slumped, and he dragged his feet as he approached the door. He stopped in the doorway, looking down at me with tears in his eyes. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt anybody. The last person I’d ever want to hurt is you.”
I looked away, my chin set.
Colton stepped out onto my porch, and slowly made his way to his truck.
I slammed the door shut, locking it behind me, leaning back against it. I tried to keep calm and breathe, but I couldn’t seem to get enough air, and then I was sobbing, crumpling into a heap on the floor. With the knowledge of the camera still fresh, learning Colton was the one who’d placed it under the guise of helping me. I felt duped. By Colton, by Sophie, and I was too smart to let someone else pull something over on me so effortlessly.
My tablet chimed, and I stood up, wiping my face. It was Josh’s phone. I scrambled to accept the call, too excited to see my children to remember my face was a red, puffy, wet mess.
“Hi, babies!” I said, still wiping my cheeks.
“Hi!” Hannah said.
Josh immediately knew something was wrong. “Mom? You okay?”
“Yes,” I said, wiping my nose with the back of my hand. “I’m great. It’s so good to see you two. I’ve missed you so much.”
“What’s wrong?” Josh insisted.
“Is she crying?” Nick said, off camera.
Josh nodded.
“I’m fine!”
Josh and Hannah bounced, and I could tell Nick was pulling the car over.
The view skewed as Josh passed his phone to his dad, and then Nick’s face was in front of me. “Morgan?” He frowned when he saw my face. “What’s wrong? Something happen? Are your parents okay?”
“Grammy!” Hannah cried.