Chapter 2: The Envelope No One Was Meant to See
Every head on the terrace turned toward Sophie.
I pulled off the beard and stood up.
Vanessa's smile didn't fall.
It froze.
"Ethan." Her voice was perfectly controlled.
"What a lovely surprise."
She said it like I had arrived late to dinner.
Not like I had just watched her raise her hand at my daughter.
The guests shifted.
Someone set down a champagne glass.
I walked past all of them and crouched in front of Caleb.
He was still holding the rabbit, still shaking.
I wrapped both arms around him and felt him collapse against my chest.
Sophie didn't move.
She was watching Vanessa.
Grace hadn't moved either.
The mark across her cheek had already started to show.
I stood and looked at her.
"How long has this been happening?"
She glanced once at Vanessa.
Then back at me.
"Since the second week after you left for London, sir."
"And you stayed."
"I couldn't leave them."
Behind me, Vanessa laughed softly for the guests.
"Grace has always been dramatic.
The children are perfectly—"
"Don't." I didn't turn around.
"Don't say another word."
Then my attorney stepped forward from the back of the crowd.
The one Vanessa had been signaling to.
He wasn't looking at me.
May you like
He was looking at her.
And he was holding an envelope I had never seen before.
