Chapter 2: The Wife Behind the Smile
For three seconds, nobody moved.
Victoria stood in the doorway wearing the same elegant dress she had worn to a charity luncheon that afternoon.
Her hair was perfectly styled.
Her makeup was flawless.
She looked like the woman I had married.
But the woman standing in front of me was also holding the phone she had stolen from our nanny.
“James,” she said softly.
“What is going on?””
I stared at the phone in her hand.
Then at Emily.
Then back at my wife.
“Where did you get that?””
Victoria looked down.
“This?””
She lifted it slightly.
“Emily dropped it.””
Emily’s eyes widened.
“That’s a lie.””
Victoria’s expression changed instantly.
“Excuse me?””
Emily stepped back.
“You took it from me.””
Victoria laughed quietly.
“James, do you hear this? She’s making accusations because she’s been caught.””
I felt something inside me crack.
For years, I had trusted Victoria’s words without question.
Now I was watching her manipulate the room like it was nothing.
“Victoria,” I said carefully, “why was Emily tied to our bed?””
Her face shifted.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
A flash of panic.
Then it disappeared.
“What are you talking about?””
I pointed toward the bed.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.””
She sighed.
“James, she staged this.””
Emily stared at her.
“I was trying to leave because my son needed me.””
Victoria rolled her eyes.
“Here we go again.””
“My son was in surgery!””
“And you were still responsible for my children.””
The words came out so casually that I almost missed them.
Almost.
I stared at my wife.
“You just admitted you kept her here.””
Victoria looked away.
“I meant she had responsibilities.””
“By tying her up?””
Her silence answered me.
The front door opened downstairs.
The paramedics arrived.
Within minutes, the house filled with voices, footsteps, and questions.
Emily was taken downstairs while I followed beside her.
Before they moved her into the ambulance, she grabbed my hand.
“Mr. Cole.””
I leaned closer.
“What?””
“Please check the safe.””
“The nursery safe?””
She nodded.
“Before she changes anything else.””
Victoria appeared behind me.
“James, don’t listen to her.””
I turned.
“Why?””
“Because she’s lying.””
“Then you won’t mind if I check.””
Her face hardened.
For the first time in our marriage, I saw fear in my wife’s eyes.
I walked into the nursery.
The safe was hidden behind a framed picture.
Inside were important documents.
Passports.
Insurance papers.
The twins’ medical records.
And their birth certificates.
I picked them up.
Something was wrong immediately.
The paper looked different.
The names were different.
I blinked.
I read the document again.
Then again.
My hands started shaking.
The twins’ last name wasn’t Cole.
It was Carter.
“James?””
Victoria’s voice came from behind me.
I turned slowly.
“What is this?””
She didn’t answer.
“Why do my children have another last name?””
Her silence became heavier.
“Victoria.””
She finally stepped closer.
“Let me explain.””
I held up the papers.
“No. You explain now.””
She looked toward the hallway.
Then back at me.
“Things aren’t as simple as you think.””
“Then make them simple.””
She opened her mouth.
But before she could speak, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man’s voice came through.
“James Cole?””
“Yes.””
“You need to listen carefully.””
I looked at Victoria.
She suddenly went pale.
The man continued.
“I’m calling because I believe your children are in danger.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Daniel Carter.””
Victoria covered her mouth.
I noticed.
And that scared me more than anything.
“Why do you know my wife?””
The line went quiet.
Then the man said:
“Because Victoria Cole isn’t the woman you think she is.””
I looked at my wife.
She whispered:
“Don’t listen to him.””
The man continued.
“James, there is something you need to know about those twins.””
“What?””
His next words changed everything.
“Those babies are not registered as yours because Victoria never expected you to discover who their real father is.””
The room spun.
I stared at my wife.
“Who is he?””
The man hesitated.
May you like
Then said:
“Me.””
