“Exactly. You couldn’t become an actor if you were in the witness protection program. Nor could you leave or re-enter the program as you like. The program is not active and difficult to enter. There’s no one watching you if we’re being honest. How’s that protection for you? I’m sorry Rebecca. You’ve based your life on a lie. It’s not your fault. No one stopped to tell a child she’s the victim.” Jake said. He pointed out several large gaping holes in the story Josalyn remembered. Jake added to the context of the doubts Josalyn experienced toward the events and timeline she recalled. He leaned forward on the edge of the comfortable chair with his elbow resting on his knees. “Is that why my mother, or stepmother knew nothing about the celiac disease? How do you know abut this Nunzio? Why would you have all this information?” Josalyn felt something in her memory click. Her mother always expressed annoyance when she became ill. She’d resisted taking Josalyn to the
“I can’t believe this. No one asked if I wanted this. I can’t. I don’t know him. Everything I know about him comes from my mother or some rumor or news article on the internet. How am I supposed to trust him? This is insane. How could the Studio do this, Jake. Please tell me to my face, you knew nothing.” Josalyn said. She’d dragged him into the adjoining bathroom and slammed the door closed behind them. Her eyes were frantic as she struggled to explain why she didn’t want to appear in the same room as her father. “I’m within minutes of firing another agent, Josalyn. No, I knew nothing. Nunzio kept silent. I thought I could trust him, and he came up with excellent recommendations. I thought I had someone who would understand I wanted a life with you. Not some existence where you couldn’t trust me. I don’t what to believe.” Jake said. He assured her he felt as strongly as she did. He felt the Studio had set them up. That the Studio had orchestrated a disaster to
“No one could say it’s love. I loved your mother. I married her to avoid a war between her family and ours. Of course, I fooled myself into believing that would stop them. Instead, I ended up with a complicated mess within a year of our marriage, and a jail sentence for something I had no part in. They thought I didn’t have protection in place for my business dealings. Their attempts failed. She fled while her family fought for an elusive goal.” “No one has told me who her family is.” “Oh, my sweet child. You have been fighting with them this entire time.” “What do you mean?” “Your stepmother is first cousins with Gena D’Ore’s uncle. Gena is her niece.” “Gena is my step cousin. Are you sure? No one ever told me or introduced me to them.” Josalyn could not believe this news. No wonder Gena despised her. She looked at her life compared to Gena’s and how Gena felt entitled to everything. She had so much already. Whil
“Yeah, I made sure, he’s going through a messy divorce right about now. I don’t know how much longer Gena will keep him around. Josalyn, you weren’t family to them. They keep it in the family. I hope your departure from that family went well. If you’d left them later, they may have pressured you into a loveless marriage with one of their lesser valued members to keep you away from your family forever. That would have tied our lives to theirs which now I see is worse than the kiss of death.” Josalyn blinked at this response, and Jake took her hand. “Okay, I think we’ve held up this wedding long enough. Please put on your dress, love, and we’ll ensure that they can’t stop us.” “Yeah, right. Fine. Let’s make this happen. Surprises and all. Later, we can sort this out.” Josalyn still appeared numbed from the surprise and flood of information her father gave her. His candor was not something she’d prepared for. The schedule was getting tight
Gena couldn’t believe the nerves of Rebecca and Everett. To get married and do it in the middle of nowhere after her announcement. After the attack on her. No one knew who attacked her, but she suspected Paulo’s wife. Bernie, his wife, had made a scene with her three brats at a restaurant. They were enjoying brunch with mimosas when she barged in and made a scene. She hoped the world would see Rebecca as a horrible scum who was cold and unfeeling for her and her precious cargo. She hated having to carry this brat. What was she supposed to do with her brat? If she managed to separate Everett from Rebecca using this troublesome child. It would justify all the surgical procedures she would undergo to regain her figure. She had a bone to pick with Everett for the announcement he allowed his agent to release that contracted her announcement. Gena now worked to get the entertainment podcaster off the internet after pointing out the fact Everett was in the photo watch
Yuri learned early in life; he might not like it when plans changed. But some changes were beneficial. Here, Yuri’s living situation would get a glow up. He might not ruin Gena as he’d planned for a few years, as she’d be useful in several ways. He’d at first wanted to use her to improve his career while enjoying ruining her for anyone else. Maybe she’d disappear too. But with her uncle’s notice, Yuri could become a made man. Alberto was a protective uncle, oddly to Gena. Punishing her was at her uncle’s whim, and Yuri learned he didn’t do it at the wrong time. In fact, the man approved of Yuri disciplining Gena. Alberto liked the idea of Yuri dominating Gena and using any means necessary to shut her up. They had no intention of ruining Rebecca’s and Everett’s wedding. Alberto wanted to confront a rival of his. Someone he believed he’d destroyed long ago but had resurfaced a few days ago. He must now handle it before certain facts enter the public knowledge and
With the vows exchanged, Josalyn tried to keep the flow going. Her head throbbed, signaling that today was overwhelming. She’d pay for it in the end. That’s part of what she hated. This wasn’t something she could predict or prevent. No one around her understood. She sought a calm space for a brief rest. She had not had that for hours. “Okay, everyone. That’s the last signature! We’re officially married again! At least, off stage.” Which set off a laugh throughout the gathering. The people there had a long day. Let’s set up again. Then we’ll do a second run through. This time we’ll record the ceremony part for the special program. So, this will be a dramatic ceremony. We want to catch comments and gossip. So, guess and give our viewers something to sink their teeth into. Just remember. Rebecca and Everett are perfect for one another. Several of you have cues to base your gossip off of. We want those out there.” Rebecca rolled her eyes at this. They w
Gena couldn’t believe the trouble they were in. The police weren’t standard city police at the stop. No, these were federal agents. They took her uncle and several others. “I’ll come get you when I’m finished with Rebecca.” Gena said. Her uncle stood there in handcuffs and panic crossed his face before his anger got the better of him and he yelled at Yuri. “No, you foolish girl. You’ll ruin everything if you make a scene. Yuri, make her stop and deliver the message to Edward Black. He’s a wedding guest. You know what he looks like don’t you? This is all a mistake and I’ll have it cleared up soon. Gena did nothing foolish. Everett Stone is not worthy of being a member of this family. Marrying him means leaving our family. All connections and resources will no longer be accessible by you.” Alberto’s words rushed out of him while the officers assisted him into the back of a police vehicle. “Uncle Alberto! He’s the father of my baby. Doesn’t