Chapter 3: The Daughter Nobody Knew About
The rain stopped, but the cold remained.
Nobody spoke.
The only sound was the distant hum of traffic beyond the mansion gates.
I stared at the document.
A birth certificate.
A child.
Brandon’s name.
My hands felt numb.
“Who is the child?””
My voice sounded unfamiliar.
Brandon looked down.
“Emily…”
“Who is the child?””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
My father stepped closer to me.
“Let the attorneys handle this.””
“No.””
I looked at Brandon.
“I spent three years married to you. I deserve to hear the truth from you.””
His shoulders dropped.
The arrogance was gone.
The confidence was gone.
Only guilt remained.
“Her name is Lily.””
My heart sank.
“How old?””
“Four.””
Four years.
The number echoed in my mind.
We had been married for three years.
Meaning he had been hiding her before our wedding.
“You knew about her when you married me?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because my mind couldn’t process the pain.
“I thought Vanessa was your affair.””
Brandon looked away.
“She was.””
Vanessa flinched.
“What?””
Brandon looked at her.
“Don’t pretend.””
Her eyes widened.
“You said you loved me.””
“And I did.””
“Then why did you marry her?””
I looked between them.
The question I had wasn’t only mine.
Vanessa wanted answers too.
Brandon ran a hand through his hair.
“Because Emily had stability.””
The words made my blood run cold.
“Stability?””
He looked at me.
“Your family had connections.””
“So that was it?””
“No.””
“Yes.””
I stepped closer.
“You didn’t love me. You loved what being married to me gave you.””
He opened his mouth.
But no words came out.
My father looked disgusted.
“You used my daughter.””
Brandon shook his head.
“I made mistakes.””
“Mistakes?””
My father’s voice hardened.
“You lied about your marriage. You stole from her trust. You brought another woman into her home.””
Vanessa suddenly turned toward Brandon.
“Wait.””
Everyone looked at her.
“You stole from her?””
Brandon’s face changed.
“Vanessa.””
“No.””
She stepped back.
“You told me the money came from your company.””
“I was going to fix it.””
Her expression shifted from anger to fear.
“You promised me we would leave.””
I stared at her.
“You knew?””
She looked at me.
“I didn’t know everything.””
“But you knew he was married.””
She said nothing.
That was her answer.
The attorney gathered the papers.
“Mr. Williams, we should move this conversation inside. There are legal matters involving fraud, asset ownership, and potentially criminal charges.””
Brandon immediately panicked.
“Criminal charges?””
My father looked at him.
“You should have thought about consequences before destroying my daughter’s life.””
Brandon turned toward me.
“Emily, please.””
I looked at him.
The man who once held me while promising forever.
The man who kissed my forehead and called me his home.
Now he was begging because he finally realized I wasn’t powerless.
“I can explain.””
“You had three years.””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
He looked at my father.
“Of losing everything.””
The honesty almost hurt more.
Because he finally admitted it.
He wasn’t afraid of losing me.
He was afraid of losing what came with me.
I placed a hand over my stomach.
His eyes immediately moved there.
“Emily…”
I stepped away.
“Don’t.””
“Please.””
“Don’t pretend you’re suddenly worried.””
His face changed.
“I am worried.””
“About the baby?””
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“Or about another thing you can inherit?””
The accusation landed.
He looked crushed.
But I didn’t know if it was guilt or fear.
My father gently touched my shoulder.
“Come with me.””
I nodded.
As I walked toward the SUVs, I heard Vanessa call out.
“Brandon!””
I stopped.
Not because I cared.
Because her voice sounded terrified.
“You need to see this.””
I turned around.
Vanessa was holding her phone.
Brandon walked toward her.
“What?””
She showed him the screen.
His face changed instantly.
“What is that?””
She whispered:
“The message I received this morning.””
My father’s attorney stepped closer.
“Mr. Carter, what message?””
Vanessa looked at me.
Then at Brandon.
“It’s from the person who paid me to come into this marriage.””
Everyone froze.
My father’s expression darkened.
“Paid you?””
Vanessa nodded slowly.
“And the person who hired me…”
May you like
She looked directly at Brandon.
“…was someone you trust.””
