Chapter 28
“Then why was she with you at Healy’s preschool?”
“If you don’t come clean tonight, it won’t just be Laney who’s furious-myself, your sister, her husband, and even your niece won’t forgive you!”
Hedwig took the folder, flipped through its contents, then dropped it on the floor with a gasp, her hand flying to her mouth in disbelief. “Big brother, tell me you didn’t actually do something to betray your wife!”
Blanche tried to pull away from Eddy’s embrace, but his large hands wouldn’t let go; he held her tight, forcing her to face him, eye to eye.
She could already guess who had called her “junior.” Only one person could pull strings like that. He’d seen her collapse at the preschool, instantly checked the security footage to uncover the truth, and remotely switched the guard’s recordings.
No one could read what was going on behind Eddy’s impenetrable, obsidian eyes.
Just then, Healy, who’d been fast asleep in the back seat, woke up amid the commotion.
He scrambled out of the car, saw photographs scattered all over the floor, and quickly stooped to gather them up. “Grandma, why are you throwing away my pictures with Miss Jean?”
“Miss Jean is going overseas. These are the last pictures I’ll ever have with her-I’ll never see her again.” Healy hugged the stack of printed photos, tears silently streaming down his face. Loraine immediately rushed over and knelt beside him. “Healy, Jeannette went to the preschool just to see you.”
“Then why was Dad there, too?”
Healy thought for a moment. “Miss Jean and I had a deal-she was supposed to pick me up after school. I wanted to play awhile before going home. But then Dad showed up and made Miss Jean leave.”
Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
Loraine smiled and explained, “See? It was all just a misunderstanding.”
“I knew it. Even if every man in the world cheated, my brother never would.” Some color returned to Hedwig’s pale face as she spoke, pride flickering in her voice. She shot a sideways glance at her husband, Vincent Yates.
“But why, in these photos, is Uncle’s hand holding that lady’s while they walk with Healy?” Hedwig’s daughter, Tia Yates, stared at the pictures in Healy’s hands, puzzled. “It looks just like when I’m with Mommy and Daddy.”
Chapter 28
“Like a real family,” she whispered. The adults exchanged uneasy glances.
Vincent interjected at just the right moment. “Don’t read too much into it. Look at your cousin’s knees-they’re filthy. He probably fell down, and your uncle and that lady just helped him up.”
“Still, this security footage is crystal clear,” he continued, brow furrowing. “Almost like it’s been enhanced.”
The tears on Blanche’s cheeks seemed to freeze as she looked up at Eddy, whose dark eyes grew even more unreadable.
He would soon send someone to double-check that footage, of course. But Blanche was certain he wouldn’t find a single clue.
“With all that sorted out, I’d say we’re all starving. Let’s head to the table,” Loraine said, her voice gentle and warm.
Healy grabbed Tia’s hand. Just a moment ago, he’d been clutching those photos like treasure; now he handed them off to a maid without a second thought. “Tia, I found something awesome-come on, I’ll show you!”
Tia skipped after her cousin, the two of them disappearing down the hallway, giggling.
Watching their innocent, carefree figures, and then seeing the maid set the photos aside on the entryway table, Blanche felt an ache in her chest at the memory of Healy being slapped by Eddy.
Her son was only five, still so little, still raised by her own hands.
He wasn’t truly bad-he’d simply been led astray by Jeannette.
Now that Jeannette was gone, Blanche believed that as Healy grew, he would learn the difference between right and wrong.
Loraine watched as Eddy carried Blanche into the dining room, then called for a servant to bring ice water for her bruised hand. Seeing the couple’s closeness, she finally allowed herself to
relax.
