Chapter 5 - VANESSA STRIKES FIRSTThe next morning, Nathan summoned Ethan to his office.
Vanessa sat beside him.
Her expression was wounded but controlled.
Nathan held Ethan’s phone in his hand.
“You photographed Vanessa without her permission,” Nathan said.
Ethan looked at the device.
It was not his phone.
It was an older model with a similar case.
Vanessa had prepared false evidence.
The screen displayed photographs of her sleeping in the conservatory.
They were invasive and humiliating.
Ethan had never taken them.
“She found this in your room,” Nathan continued.
“That is not my phone.”
Vanessa placed both hands over her stomach.
“Why are you doing this to me, Ethan?”
“I’m not.”
“You’ve hated me from the beginning.”
“I questioned your story.”
“You called me a liar.”
“I never said that to you.”
Vanessa’s voice trembled at exactly the right moment.
“You told Caroline that my baby wasn’t real.”
Nathan stood.
“You involved my wife in this?”
“Caroline is still your wife,” Ethan said.
“That isn’t the point.”
“It should be.”
Nathan’s face hardened.
“Leave the mansion.”
Ethan did not move.
Vanessa watched him through lowered eyes.
A small smile touched the corner of her mouth.
She believed she had won.
Ethan removed the real phone from his pocket.
He opened the photographs he had taken through the conservatory door.
Then he placed the screen in front of Nathan.
The beige support band was visible beneath Vanessa’s dress.
Nathan stared at it.
Vanessa reacted immediately.
“That is a maternity support belt.”
Ethan enlarged the image.
“What are the metal anchors for?”
“My doctor recommended them.”
“Which doctor?”
Vanessa’s eyes flickered.
“The name is in my medical records.”
“The report you gave Nathan was signed by a doctor who retired eight months ago.”
Silence filled the office.
Nathan slowly turned toward Vanessa.
“Is that true?”
Vanessa rose from the chair.
“The clinic uses electronic signatures.”
“I called the clinic,” Ethan said.
“Dr. Warren has not authorized a report since her retirement.”
Vanessa’s breathing changed.
Nathan looked from her to Ethan.
For one second, Ethan thought his brother might finally understand.
Then Vanessa gripped the edge of the desk and cried out.
She bent forward, clutching her stomach.
“Nathan.”
Nathan rushed to her.
“What is it?”
“The baby.”
She sank into his arms.
Nathan shouted for the housekeeper to call an ambulance.
As the room erupted into panic, Vanessa opened her eyes and looked over Nathan’s shoulder.
Her expression was cold.
May you like
She had created another emergency.
And once again, Nathan believed her.
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