Part 21 (2/2)
”Is it true he has left you for Swain and that he's filed for a divorce?”
Colby was taken aback by the bombardment of questions coming at her all at once. ”What are you talking about?”
One reporter replied for the others. ”We're talking about the picture and article appearing in this morning's paper.”
Colby's face showed her confusion. ”What picture? What article?”
No sooner had she asked the questions, than a newspaper was practically shoved in her face. She saw the front page picture of Sterling holding Diamond Swain in his arms. The headlines read, The Hamilton-Swain Fling is on Again!! The Hamilton-Swain Fling is on Again!!
Colby frowned. Then she neatly folded the paper and handed it back to the reporter. ”I can't believe someone would print such garbage.”
”Then you don't believe it?”
”Of course not.”
”Did you know your husband asked that Diamond Swain replace Rachel Hill as his leading lady in the movie he's currently filming in Spain?”
”Did you know he's carrying on an affair with Diamond Swain while the movie is being filmed?”
Before Colby could respond the reporter continued. ”That picture on the front page of today's paper shows them embracing right after he left her hotel room around three a.m. this morning.”
”Come on, Colby, you don't have to listen to any of this,” James said, taking his sister's hand and leading her away.
Another reporter seized that opportunity to yell out, ”The truth is in that photograph, Mrs. Hamilton. You can't deny it. Take a good look at it and you'll see two people who care a lot for each other. It seems Sterling Hamilton is playing you for a fool.”
An angry Mac pushed their way through the reporters. It was only after Colby was securely settled into the back seat of the car with James getting in with her and Mac at the wheel, that she gave into her tears and cried on James's shoulder.
James looked at his sister as she sat at the kitchen table eating the sandwich he had made for her. ”I can't believe how calmly you're taking all of this,” he said.
Colby stopped eating and glanced up at him. ”Calmly? I don't call crying my eyes out on your shoulder taking anything calmly. I feel sorry for whoever wrote that article and took that picture. Sterling's going to be furious.”
James came and sat down at the table across from her. ”I take it you don't believe any of it?”
Colby thought long and hard about James's question. Sterling's relations.h.i.+p with Diamond Swain was something the two of them had never discussed since they had gotten married. But deep in her heart, she believed he would not be unfaithful to her. She refused to believe these past few weeks with him had been a lie and that he would think so little of her and sleep with another woman.
”No, I don't believe it,” she answered softly.
”Then why were you crying?”
”Because I was mad. The media has gone too far. How can anyone stoop so low and print something like that? It's like those reporters want to think the worst of Sterling.”
”Diamond Swain has has replaced Rachel Hill on the set of that movie Hamilton is filming in Spain, Colby. The midday news confirmed that,” James pointed out. replaced Rachel Hill on the set of that movie Hamilton is filming in Spain, Colby. The midday news confirmed that,” James pointed out.
She nodded. ”Yes, I know, but there has to be a good reason she was replaced by Diamond Swain.”
”Okay, then explain the picture, Colby.”
Colby shrugged, not wanting to think of the picture right now. ”I can't explain it, but I'm sure Sterling will when he calls.” She leaned back in her chair and held her brother's gaze.
”I trust him, James. And I believe he loves me just as much as he says he does because he has no reason to lie about it. I know you don't think he loves me but-”
”You're wrong. I do think he loves you.”
Colby wasn't prepared for what her brother had just said. ”What! Just a few weeks ago, when you found out about Morton Industries, you were almost certain he didn't.”
James leaned back in his chair and smiled wryly. ”Well, yes, but that was before Hamilton paid me a visit.”
A surprised expression covered Colby's face. ”Sterling came to see you? When?”
”When he was on his way to Spain. He thought we should settle the issue once and for all about your marriage and how he felt about you.”
Colby was silent for a moment before asking, ”What did he say?”
James chuckled. ”Quite a lot. And what he said and how he said it left little doubt in my mind about his feelings for you.”
He reached out for her hand. ”But there are a lot of people who'll read that article and see that picture and believe the worst. That photo is pretty damaging.”
Colby shook her head. ”It's not damaging to me because I don't believe it, and I don't care who may read it and believe it. In my heart, I believe Sterling loves me and that's all that matters.”
”I'm glad to hear you say that, Mrs. Hamilton,” Mac said, coming into the room. ”I didn't mean to listen in but I just happened to be standing outside the door a few seconds ago.”
He came farther into the room to stand in front of Colby. ”I think we should leave this afternoon for North Carolina.”
Colby frowned. ”Why? What's wrong with waiting to leave in the morning as we planned?”
Mac sighed heavily. ”I tried calling Spain and Sterling's not there. The person I talked to said he walked off the set to return to the States the moment he saw the headlines in the papers.”
Colby blinked. ”Sterling's on his way home?”
Mac nodded. ”Yes.” Then he looked at her thoughtfully. ”And I have a feeling he thinks he'll find you packed and gone when he gets there.”
Colby's face went completely blank at Mac's statement. However, James asked the question before she could. ”Why would he think that?”
Mac's expression was solemn for a moment before he answered. ”Because of the Hamilton curse. No Hamilton man has been able to keep a woman for long. All Hamilton women end up divorcing Hamilton men and leaving them.”
Colby rolled her eyes to the ceiling. She remembered that bit of family history Sterling had once shared with her. She stood from her seat. ”Well this Hamilton woman has no intention of leaving. I married my Hamilton man for life. Get the car ready, Mac. We're going home tonight.”
Chapter 23.
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