Chapter 57
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll go to the office with your sister-in-law. After the whole kidnapping ordeal, she’s not in the best place emotionally-keep an eye on her, watch her mood. Anything you see or hear, report back to
me.”
“Don’t worry, bro. I’ve got it covered.”
That night at Northshire Estates, Blanche pulled off her wedding ring and tossed it at him, her face filled with disappointment. She brought up divorce again, her words echoing as he replayed the image of her
walking away, leaving everything behind.
Eddy’s heart clenched. A vague sense of dread crept in.
Could Laney have found out about him and Jeannette?
No. That couldn’t be.
He’d heard her tell Hedwig herself that it was all just a misunderstanding. Blanche had overheard, then turned and left.
Now, with Hedwig acting as his informant, Blanche knew she couldn’t afford to give him any more reason to doubt her.
From the garden, Hedwig’s pleading voice floated in again, but Blanche
was too exhausted to care.
“Please, Eddy, can’t you let Vincent go?”
“People gossiping could ruin Tia’s future. I don’t want her to be branded as the daughter of a criminal.”
“No.” A cold glint flashed in Eddy’s eyes. “He hurt Blanche. Facing justice is the least he deserves. If I haven’t destroyed him, it’s only for the sake of you and Tia.”
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“But, Eddy… what about Tia?”
“Tia is my niece. As long as I’m here-and your sister-in-law’s here-no one will dare lay a finger on her. I’ve arranged for Tia to start at Healy’s preschool tomorrow. She’ll go with Healy.”
Hedwig, while relieved at Eddy’s arrangements, couldn’t help but feel resentful. “So Tia and I mean nothing to you? Is your wife really all that
matters?”
“Laney is the woman I will spend my life with. She’s the most important person in the world to me,” Eddy answered solemnly.
Hedwig watched him walk away, unable to keep her bitter thoughts to herself.
He claims to love his wife so much, yet he still cheated on her?
She remembered how, after the kidnapping, Vincent had sworn she was the love of his life too.
But ever since that other woman had appeared, Vincent stopped caring, stopped being gentle; he wouldn’t even touch her anymore. Every nice thing he had, he gave to that woman instead.
He barely paid attention to Tia either.
She might have the name Mrs. Yates, but emotionally and materially, she couldn’t compete with that other woman.
So much for “true love” from a man’s mouth.
Hedwig scoffed-when Laney found out the truth, Eddy would finally get what he deserved.
Back in the master bedroom, Eddy found Blanche already asleep. He reached out and gently rested his hand on her belly, where the symbol of their love was growing.
Twice before, Blanche’s pregnancies had nearly cost her her life. He
Chapter 57
couldn’t let that happen again.
He had to take care of this baby. The sooner, the better.
He needed to bring Lara home. With Lara around, even if Blanche found out the truth someday, maybe she wouldn’t be so angry.
Eddy stepped out into the living room, his shadow stretching across the carpet in the soft light. He pulled out his phone and dialed the director of the children’s home.
“Tomorrow, I’m bringing my wife to visit Lara. Please make the arrangements.”
“My wife likes kind-hearted children. I trust you know what to do.”
Blanche opened her eyes, staring coldly at the husband who was always scheming. The man standing before her now was nothing like the boy she once loved; even the last traces of affection were fading away.
She glanced at the phone case in his hand-the words “Beloved Husband” printed across it in faded letters. Her eyes dimmed.
The next morning, as Eddy requested, Blanche visited the children’s home before work.
The director greeted them warmly.
As they walked into the playroom, a big boy shoved a little girl off the swing. Immediately, another girl, upright and confident, came to the rescue, helping the fallen child to her feet and scolding the bully until he ran off in tears.
The little heroine won a chorus of praise and gratitude from the other children.
The director smiled and led them over. “Let me introduce you-this is Lara.”
The girl turned around, her innocent smile lighting up her face. She
Chapter 57
greeted them politely, “Hello, sir, ma’am.”
Blanche stared at her in shock. The girl’s eyes and brows were a mirror image of Eddy’s, while her features and the way she held herself were so reminiscent of Jeannette.
But what shook Blanche to her core was how much this child looked like the only ultrasound photo she had of her lost daughter.
Eddy lifted the girl into his arms, and Blanche felt her heart seize with a sharp, relentless pain. Her whole body trembled.
“Eddy, do you really take me for a fool?”
Any
