The crowd erupted in shocked whispers.
“How could Mr. Simmons, who adores his wife, possibly betray Mrs. Simmons?”
“No way,” someone murmured, disbelief in their voice. “If this is true, how can I ever believe in love again?”
Eddy’s dark eyes reflected Blanche’s devastated, tear–streaked face. She was trembling uncontrollably, her frail frame on the verge of collapse, as if her very soul had shattered.
“Laney, this is all just a misunderstanding.”
Watching her suffer, Eddy felt a crushing pain in his chest, as if he were drowning and lies were his only lifeline. But lying to her only made the pain worse.
She looked at him, voice hoarse and trembling. “A misunderstanding? You’re standing there with the proof in black and white, and you expect me to believe it’s all a mistake?”
Her mind had long processed the betrayal, but her heart was still caught between agony and fury. Every act of kindness he’d ever shown her roared in her memories, yet here he was, wielding the knife of betrayal, carving away every last bit of goodness from her heart.
The pain was raw, unbearable–she could hardly breathe.
Blanche stared at Eddy, his anxious, hollow expression overlapping with the memories of the man who once loved her so fiercely, Choking back sobs, she whispered, “You wanted me to adopt her. You told me how much this little girl reminded you of our daughter–the one we lost.”
She laughed bitterly, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Now I finally understand why she looks so much like our daughter.”
“She’s your child. Your secret child.”
The room exploded.
“What? Mr. Simmons tricked Mrs. Simmons into adopting his own illegitimate daughter?”
“To let his mistress’s child live under his wife’s roof, pretending to be an orphan? How could he do something so heartless?”
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Chapter TUU
The outrage kept building, wave after wave.
“Laney, please, it isn’t what you think–just let me explain.” Eddy grabbed Blanche’s shoulders, his hands trembling. The pain and regret in her eyes battered at his heart.
“Go ahead. Explain.”
Blanche looked up at him, tears spilling from her reddened eyes. She wanted to know–how could the man who once loved her so much destroy everything they had built together?
“Sweetheart,” Eddy choked out, hesitating, his gaze darting away, guilt written all over his face as he began to weave another lie. “I was only trying to help Kelvin-‘
Blanche didn’t want to hear another word. The folder slipped from her hand, scattering papers across the floor. She wiped the tears from her face and turned to Terrell and Fernando. “I’m sorry, boys. Auntie’s going home now.”
“If I have time, I’ll come play with you again.”
Terrell clung to Blanche’s hand, refusing to let go. The little boy didn’t understand the adults‘ quarrel, but he could feel Blanche’s sadness. “Auntie, why don’t you come to my house? It’s really fun there.”
Blanche forced a smile, gently ruffling his hair before walking toward the exit.
The crowd parted silently, making way for her.
Hedwig shot Eddy a look, then hurried after Blanche.
“I’ll go with you,” she said quietly.
All at once, Eddy’s guilt and shame hardened into a cold mask. His eyes met Fernando’s, sharp and unyielding. This man had deliberately driven a wedge between him and Blanche.
If it weren’t for Fernando’s special status, Eddy would have thrown him out of Novandria long ago, just as he had with every other man who dared get close to
Blanche.
“Professor Reese, our family affairs are none of your concern. Please mind your
own business.”
Fernando’s voice was calm, almost indifferent. “It doesn’t matter if we believe you, took in the child out of kindness for a friend. All that matters is whether Mrs. Simmons believes you. This is between you and her. But this woman–she spread rumors, deceived the public, and slandered Mrs. Simmons. That’s a criminal
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offense.”
“Mr. Simmons, I hope you’re not going to let your so–called friend off the hook again.”
The room was filled with dignitaries and socialites–people who held the scales of justice in their hands.
Eddy hesitated, clearly unnerved. He turned to his security detail. “Call the police.”
“If the authorities need witnesses, we’ll cooperate,” Fernando said quietly. Felipa nodded in agreement.
Eddy’s gaze swept darkly over Fernando’s face before he strode out of the ballroom.
His bodyguards scrambled to gather the scattered papers and hurried after him.
The spectacle was over, but in a world of high society, gossip never really ends.
“There’s no way Mr. Simmons could betray his wife. He loves her too much.”
A woman snorted. “Men–what a joke.”
Later, Fernando spoke quietly to Felipa. “This woman wasn’t even at the party. Someone took a photo of me and Laney and passed it on to her. That’s what started this mess. Find out who it was–I don’t want them showing up again.”
“Don’t worry, Professor,” Felipa replied.
Fernando’s thoughts drifted to Blanche’s devastated face, guilt gnawing at him.
“Did I do the wrong thing?”
Terrell slipped his hand into Fernando’s. “If my dad were here, he’d never let Auntie be sad. Dad would never do something wrong.”
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