Chapter 6 - NOT TONIGHT“No.”
I stared at the floor.
“No, no, no.”
My due date was still four weeks away.
My father put an arm around me.
“We’re going to the hospital.”
“I’m fine.”
Another contraction hit.
I gripped his sleeve.
He waited.
When it passed, he looked at me.
“You were saying?”
“I hate you.”
“Good.”
He nodded toward security.
“Get the car.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“I’m coming.”
I turned.
“No.”
His face fell.
“Vivienne, that’s my child.”
“And I’m your wife.”
His eyes dropped.
I didn’t need to finish.
The hotel attorney came over.
“Ms. Ashford, police are on the way regarding the attempted framing and financial documents.”
I nearly laughed again.
“Of course they are.”
My father guided me toward the exit.
Behind us, Chloe shouted.
“This is her fault!”
I stopped walking.
My father muttered,
“Don’t.”
I turned anyway.
Chloe was crying now.
Mascara streaked down her face.
Her perfect wedding was gone.
Her husband was leaving.
Half the room was filming her.
And still—
She looked at me like I had done something to her.
“You ruined everything!”
I stared.
Then I said quietly,
“You put your own ring in Amanda’s purse.”
She flinched.
“You told her to plant it on me.”
Her mouth tightened.
“You signed papers using my property.”
She looked away.
“You planned to use my arrest against me.”
Silence.
I held my torn dress closed with one hand.
“You ruined your own wedding.”
Then I left.
The elevator ride down felt endless.
My father stood beside me.
Neither of us spoke.
Halfway to the lobby, he said,
“I should have told you sooner.”
I looked at him.
“About the money?”
He nodded.
“When did you know?”
His hesitation made me angry.
“Dad.”
“Two weeks.”
I stared at him.
“Two weeks?”
“We were investigating.”
“You knew Dominic tried to take money from my trust for two weeks?”
“I wanted proof.”
“You should have told me.”
“Yes.”
No excuse.
No defense.
Just yes.
That made it harder to stay angry.
I looked away.
“You screwed up.”
“I did.”
Another contraction came.
He offered his hand.
I squeezed it so hard he winced.
“Good,” I said.
“Now we’re even.”
His mouth twitched.
Then the elevator opened.
Three police officers stood in the lobby.
And beside them—
A man I recognized from Dominic’s office.
His chief financial officer.
Peter Lang.
He saw me.
Then he saw my father.
And ran straight toward us.
“Mr. Ashford.”
He was sweating.
“I need protection.”
My father frowned.
“From whom?”
Peter looked back toward the ballroom elevators.
“From the Mercers.”
He pulled a flash drive from his pocket.
“They’re not broke because of one bad deal.”
My contraction disappeared beneath a colder feeling.
May you like
Peter shoved the drive into my father’s hand.
“They’ve been stealing for years.”
