Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE LIE
We found Sophie and Vanessa near the service elevators.
I dropped to my knees.
Sophie ran into my arms.
I held her so tightly she complained.
“Mom, I can’t breathe.”
I laughed and cried at the same time.
“Good.”
She hugged me harder.
Alexander approached Vanessa.
She couldn’t look at him.
“I’m sorry.”
Alexander said nothing.
“I never loved Cynthia’s plan.”
“But you participated.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about carrying my child.”
“Yes.”
“You let me build a nursery.”
Vanessa started crying.
“Yes.”
“You let me talk to a pillow every night.”
That broke something in her.
She covered her face.
“I know.”
Alexander’s voice remained quiet.
“Why?”
Vanessa finally told him.
Two years earlier, Cynthia showed her documents suggesting Alexander had secretly transferred company money offshore.
The documents were fabricated.
Cynthia claimed Alexander planned to abandon Vanessa after gaining control of her family assets.
Vanessa was insecure.
Angry.
And greedy enough to believe what benefited her.
Cynthia proposed the pregnancy.
At first, Vanessa refused.
Then Cynthia showed her the trust.
“If Alexander thinks he has an heir, he’ll transfer shares.”
Vanessa agreed.
Dr. Pierce created the medical records.
The prosthetic belly was ordered privately.
But Vanessa insisted she never knew about Elena.
Not until six months earlier.
“When Cynthia found her.”
Alexander stared at Vanessa.
“You knew Elena was alive?”
“For six months.”
“And you said nothing.”
Vanessa lowered her head.
“Yes.”
Alexander removed his wedding ring.
He placed it on the table.
“We’re done.”
Vanessa nodded.
She didn’t argue.
But before Alexander walked away, she grabbed his sleeve.
“There’s something else.”
He stopped.
May you like
Vanessa looked terrified.
“Your father has Elena’s baby.”
