Chapter 4 - THE CHILD
Adrian stared at the screen.
I could almost see his mind refusing to understand the words.
Vanessa moved first.
She lunged toward the phone.
Daniel picked it up before she reached it.
“Give me that!”
He held it away.
“I think the police should see this.”
“It's private!”
Adrian turned toward her.
“The baby isn't mine?”
She froze.
“Adrian—”
“Answer me.”
“It isn't what it looks like.”
He laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“That's the line cheaters use in bad movies.”
“You cheated on your wife with me.”
His jaw tightened.
“So don't suddenly pretend you're morally offended.”
That hit him.
Hard.
Vanessa pointed at me.
“She knew.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“She set this up!”
“Stop blaming her!” Adrian roared.
For the first time all night, Vanessa looked frightened of him.
Two police officers entered with Daniel's associate.
A female officer approached me.
“Mrs. Vale?”
“Yes.”
“We were told you may have been assaulted.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“My wife and I had a private disagreement.”
The officer looked at the riding crop.
Then at me.
Then back at Adrian.
“Sir, step away from her.”
His face reddened.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Step away.”
He did.
Barely.
Vanessa moved toward the door.
The second officer stopped her.
“Ma'am, we need to speak with everyone who witnessed what happened.”
“I didn't witness anything.”
I looked at her.
“You were standing beside him.”
“That doesn't mean—”
“There's video,” Daniel said.
She closed her mouth.
The officer took me into the library to speak privately.
I told her the truth.
Every strike.
Every insult.
Every moment I had spent hoping Adrian would suddenly become the man I married again.
He never did.
By the time the paramedics examined me, Adrian was sitting in the foyer with an officer several feet away.
His hands were empty.
His confidence was gone.
But his eyes stayed on Vanessa.
She sat across the room, arms folded tightly.
Marcus's phone had been placed into an evidence bag.
I walked past Adrian toward the ambulance.
“Eleanor.”
I stopped.
He stood.
The officer immediately moved closer.
“Please,” Adrian said.
It was the first time I had heard that word from him all night.
I looked back.
“What?”
“I didn't know about Marcus.”
I stared at him.
“You want sympathy?”
“No.”
“Then what do you want?”
His voice cracked.
“I don't know.”
I nodded toward Vanessa.
“Now you know how it feels to trust someone who was lying to your face.”
He flinched.
Good.
I walked outside.
The cool night air hit my face.
Daniel followed.
“The police are taking Mr. Vale in for questioning.”
“Will he be arrested?”
“That depends on the evidence and what you decide to pursue.”
“I’m pursuing it.”
Daniel nodded.
“No hesitation?”
I looked back at the house.
“No.”
My phone rang.
Dad.
I answered.
“I’m okay.”
“Are you in the ambulance?”
“Yes.”
“I’m coming.”
“Dad, you don't need—”
“I wasn't asking.”
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
Then his voice changed.
“Eleanor, there's something else.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“Our forensic team examined those transfers.”
“And?”
“The seven million wasn't the beginning.”
I gripped the phone tighter.
“How much?”
“Thirty-two million dollars.”
I stopped breathing.
“From Adrian?”
“No.”
May you like
My father paused.
“From accounts held in your name.”
