Chapter 4 - THE BRIDE’S SECRET
Victoria’s expression barely moved.
That was what gave her away.
A guilty person usually reacted too much.
Victoria reacted too little.
Ethan stared at her.
“What did she mean?”
Victoria lifted her chin.
“She’s desperate.”
Rosa stepped closer.
“You were outside my daughter’s preschool six weeks ago.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“You were sitting in a black Mercedes.”
“I own several.”
“You watched Lily come out.”
Victoria’s eyes flashed.
Ethan’s voice dropped.
“Victoria.”
She turned on Rosa.
“You don’t get to accuse me of anything.”
Rosa pulled out her phone.
“I took a picture of the license plate because I thought someone was following us.”
Victoria’s jaw tightened.
Rosa opened the image.
Ethan took the phone.
The plate belonged to Langford Holdings.
Victoria’s family company.
He looked at her.
“Explain.”
She said nothing.
“Explain.”
Victoria exhaled.
“Fine.”
Her voice turned cold.
“I knew there was a child.”
Rosa’s fingers curled.
Ethan looked like he’d been hit.
“For how long?”
“A few months.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I was protecting us.”
“From my daughter?”
“From chaos!”
Her shout echoed through the ballroom.
Victoria glanced at the guests.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Your father told me Rosa had tried to trap you years ago.”
Rosa stepped forward.
“I never asked Ethan for one dollar.”
Victoria shrugged.
“That’s what women always say before the lawyers arrive.”
Ethan’s face went hard.
“Stop talking.”
Victoria ignored him.
“I hired someone to confirm the child existed.”
“You hired someone to follow a three-year-old?”
“To verify facts.”
“Did you do a DNA test?”
“No.”
“Did Dad?”
Richard looked away.
Ethan caught it.
“You did.”
Richard said quietly, “A private laboratory.”
Rosa’s face turned white.
“You tested my child?”
Richard replied, “We obtained a discarded cup.”
“You took something from her daycare trash?”
“It was legal.”
Rosa lunged forward.
Mrs. Hall caught her.
“You had no right!”
Richard looked unmoved.
Ethan’s voice trembled with anger.
“What did the test say?”
Richard didn’t answer.
Victoria did.
“Ninety-nine point nine percent.”
The room exploded in whispers.
Lily pressed herself against Rosa’s leg.
Ethan stared down at her.
His daughter.
Confirmed.
Known.
Hidden.
He looked at Victoria.
“You knew she was mine.”
“Yes.”
“And you were going to marry me anyway without telling me.”
Victoria’s face cracked.
“I was going to tell you later.”
“When?”
“After the honeymoon.”
Rosa laughed in disbelief.
Victoria snapped, “Stay out of this.”
Rosa stared at her.
“I’ve been out of it for three years.”
That line landed harder than shouting.
Ethan looked at Victoria.
“Wedding’s over.”
She froze.
“Don’t be dramatic.”
“I’m not marrying you.”
“You’re embarrassed.”
“No.”
“You’re confused.”
“No.”
“You’re emotional.”
Ethan removed his boutonniere.
He dropped it beside her bouquet.
“I said no.”
Victoria’s face emptied.
May you like
Then she whispered—
“You have no idea what your father promised my family if this wedding went through.”
