Eddy’s gentle expression darkened in an instant. Jeannette lunged forward clapping her hand over Lara’s trouth before she could say anything else scrambling for an explanation.
But Blanche spoke first. “Even if you’re just a child, you can’t say things like that
She draped her delicate hand over Eddy’s chest, claiming him in a soft possessive gesture. “He’s my husband, Healy’s father–not your dad.”
Eddy’s face lit up with joy. He squeezed Blanche’s hand and led her away
Jeannette watched them go. Eddy held the car door open for Blanche, shielding her head as she got in, his gaze lingering on her with a tenderness that was almost indulgent.
He had never looked at Jeannette that way.
A dull ache pulsed in Jeannette’s chest. She crouched down to Lara’s level, her voice trembling. “Sweetheart, from now on, you’re Mr. Kelvin’s daughter. You have to call him Dad. You can’t call your real father ‘Dad‘ anymore, understand?”
“But why, Mommy? I don’t want to.” Lara’s face crumpled and she burst into tears distraught and confused.
Jeannette hugged her tight, silent tears sliding down her cheeks. “It’s my fault. honey. I’m just not strong enough.”
“But I promise you, I’ll never give up. What belongs to you–I’ll get it back, no matter
what.”
Hatred glimmered in Jeannette’s eyes, sharp and unyielding.
***
In the back seat of the Rolls–Royce-
“Honey, you’re too kind. After everything Ingrid’s done to you, you still let her go.”
He smiled, pride in his voice. “And you’re so clever, too. How did you connect your phone to the computer and find this villa?”
Blanche’s eyes flicked from the Ocean Jewel necklace in her hand to Eddy’s calm. dark gaze. “I should be asking you. Before you went to the police, what were you doing in this neighborhood?”
A tense silence settled over the car, so deep you could hear a pin drop.
Then Eddy’s phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, flashed the caller ID to Blanche, and put the call on speaker.
“Eddy, did you deliver the pearl necklace for me? Jean says your wife broke it.”
Blanche’s voice was cool. “So you were just helping Kelvin with a necklace.”
“Oh–you’re here too, Blanche. Do me a favor, will you? Don’t make things harder for Jean. We’re practically family now, and she’s your sister, after all.”
Blanche suppressed a laugh. Her mother had only ever had one daughter. She gave a perfunctory, “Sure.” Then, as if offering an olive branch, she added, “To make up for it, The Simmons Group’s PR team will handle your wedding arrangements.”
“W–wedding?” A splash sounded over the phone–someone had apparently spit out their drink in surprise.
Clearly, Jeannette hadn’t shared this bit of news yet.
“By the way, when’s the Anderson family’s official welcoming dinner?”
“We’d like to prepare a gift for the occasion.”
“W–what?” Kelvin’s voice shot up an octave.
“Mr. Anderson hasn’t agreed yet? The Andersons won’t acknowledge her?” Eddy’s tone sharpened.
Kelvin stammered, “Of course we will! There’s no way we’d turn our backs on our own flesh and blood!”
“We’ll be waiting for your good news. It’s a big event, and as Jeannette’s family, Eddy and I will be there.”
“Absolutely.”
The call ended. Blanche studied Eddy’s face, searching for any hint of a secret, but he gave nothing away.
***
Back at their apartment, Blanche shared the happy news of Kelvin and Jeannette’s upcoming wedding with Hedwig. Hedwig’s reaction shifted from shock, to relief, and finally to genuine delight.
Within minutes, word had spread through all of Novandria Circle’s high society. It wasn’t long before everyone knew the truth about the Simmons Group CEO’s wife–and her generous acceptance of her father’s illegitimate daughter. People
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were quick to praise Mrs. Simmons’s kindness, and the story cast a beautiful, romantic glow over her marriage.
The Simmons Group’s stock price soared.
***
That night, Eddy lay beside Blanche, his hand gently resting on her stomach. “Sweetheart, you’ve just lost a child. You need to rest. No going to the office, no pushing yourself, okay? Just stay home and take care of yourself.”
Blanche kept her eyes closed, murmuring a soft “mm–hmm” in reply.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the bed behind her suddenly felt lighter, followed by the quiet click of the door closing.
Exhausted, Blanche dragged herself upright, opened her drawer, and took out the prenatal medicine Sophie had prescribed. She swallowed a few pills and lay back down.
Suddenly, voices rose outside the door–angry and desperate.
“How could you let Kelvin marry Jeannette? He’s my fiancé!”
“The Andersons are breaking off the engagement with the Marshalls. Everyone’s talking about how the Andersons dumped me. Apparently, even an illegitimate daughter is more worthy than Miss Marshall!”
“Ingrid, you still have other options,” Eddy’s voice was flat, emotionless.
“I don’t want anyone else. I want to marry Kelvin.”
“You were engaged to him for six years. Healy’s five now, and you still never agreed to marry him.” Eddy’s tone was icy. “You never loved Kelvin. Why keep lying to yourself?”
“What are you saying?” Ingrid’s voice shook.
“The one you like isn’t Kelvin–it’s me.”
“You fooled Laney, but I’ve always known.”
“When… When did you
find out?”
“You only got engaged to Kelvin so you could stay close to me, and we both know
it.”
