Page 63 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“I wouldn’t trust what he says,” Paul hissed. “The Blackwells are all liars.”
“Paul, please!” Carly knew her tone had been cutting as she held up a hand. “I think you should finish checking in and get settled in your room. This isn’t a matter for you; it’s between my team and me.”
“Ethan Blackwell is a part of your team now?” Shaun said in disbelief. “After everything, we’ve just told you?”
At this point, Carly was barely hanging onto her sanity as revelation after revelation hit her like huge waves crashing against the rocks during a tropical storm. She didn’t know how much longer she could go before snapping or saying something that would come back to haunt her.
“After all your lies and manipulations—“ Carly advanced on Shaun. “You dare stand there and question who I believe or not?” Her voice shook with anger. “Especially whenyou’renot even supposed to be within ten feet of me, let alone the same town.”
“Fine!” Shaun sneered. “But don’t come crawling to me or think I won’t say I told you so when you find out we were right about Ethan and his family.”
With that, Shaun and Paul turned and sauntered off.
Ethan’s phone beeped, and he frowned as he looked at the message, his head shooting up as Jennifer’s and Harriet’s beeped as well.
“Oh no!” Jennifer gasped, showing Carly her phone. “You might’ve been spot on about Trinity pulling strings.”
On Jennifer’s screen, there was an ad for Trinity Time. It showed a dramatic scene of them all in a lobby, setting the stage for what seemed like a clash. The ad teased Trinity’s upcoming episode with Stella Hart’s ex-husband and former father-in-law, promising an explosive discussion about Stella’s comeback to the acting world. It hinted at a confrontation, making it clear that Trinity’s next show was not to be missed.
“Ethan!” Alex’s voice boomed through the foyer as he rushed toward them. “What the heck is going on?” His eyes flashed angrily. “I’ve had Dad and Bailey on the phone about Trinity’s next show.” He stopped short when he saw who his brother was with. “Oh! I should’ve known.” His eyes narrowed at Carly.
“Was this you, Alex?” Harriet stepped up to defend Carly. “Are you behind all this?”
“Oh, I see!” Alex nodded, his eyes sliding toward Ethan. “You’re still taking his side.” His eyes turned to chips of eyes. “Well, this is entirely Ethan’s mess this time,princess. Oh, and if you want proof, I’ll tell you what I told Ethan. Call the police captain. He’ll tell you that I’ve been trying to figure out who has been breaking into all my properties. You can also call the insurance companies that I’ve been dealing with the whole day, too.”
“Wait!” Carly breathed, trying to make sense of everything. “Someone’s been breaking into your properties?”
“Is that a hint of concern in your eyes?” Alex mocked.
“Alex!” Ethan barked warningly. “Just answer the darn question.”
“Yes. Last night, they broke into my house on Plum Island and my yacht, ransacking both,” Alex told them. “As it turns out, those weren’t the only properties of mine they’d broken into last night.”
“Was anything taken?” Carly felt icy fingers creeping up her spine at the familiar scenario.
“Not that I know of, but then again, I haven’t had much time to find out,” Alex told her before looking at her suspiciously. “Why?”
“Because the same thing happened to me three years ago,” Carly told him. “Right beforeyoufired me.”
“Huh!” Alex said, not even flinching at the reference to Carly knowing he had impersonated Ethan back then. “And how would your break-ins be connected to mine?”
“I don’t know yet!” Carly told him defensively, not liking his snide attitude. “But it could.” She looked at Ethan. “Just like Ethan and I have both found out we share an in-law.”
“What are you talking about?” Alex looked at them, confused.
“Paul is Davin Giles’s father,” Ethan explained to Alex.
“What?” Alex spluttered. “Beth didn’t have any siblings. Well, at least she didn’t when we did a background check on her.”
“Excuse me?” Ethan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You did a background check on Beth?”
“Yeah!” Alex nodded without remorse. “You were about to be convicted for her murder. Did you think we weren’t going to?”
“Hold on,” Jennifer chimed in. “How would a background check not pick up that Beth had siblings?”
“Paul took in Shaun and his younger sister when their mother died, and his father took off,” Carly explained. “Paul knew Shaun’s mother.”
“Do you know if he legally adopted them?” Alex asked, his attitude becoming less stiff toward Carly.
