Chapter 8 - The Envelope
Grant fell to his knees as the truth began to break around him.
Celeste collapsed near the altar.
Evelyn gave the medical report to Grant.
He read the date once, then again.
“Fourteen months ago,” he whispered.
Dr. Price stepped from the guests.
“I supervised your final test. The procedure was successful. Your records were later altered.”
Grant looked at Celeste.
“You told me the clinic confirmed I was the father.”
Celeste shook her head frantically.
“She’s trying to ruin us.”
Evelyn pointed toward the envelope on the registry table.
“The original agreement is inside.”
Vivian moved toward it.
Marcus Reed blocked her path.
“Do not touch the evidence.”
Grant rose unsteadily and opened the envelope.
He found the agreement with Clara Bell, copies of payments, photographs of Celeste purchasing prosthetic bellies, and transcripts of Vivian’s recording.
Evelyn played the audio from her phone.
Vivian’s voice filled the wedding hall.
Once the wedding is complete and the trust is signed, Celeste will suffer a private loss. Grant will be too devastated to ask questions.
Grant turned toward his mother.
“You planned this?”
Vivian lifted her chin.
“I protected our family.”
“You made me believe I had a son.”
“You needed an heir.”
“I have a child!”
The force in Grant’s voice startled Lily, who began to cry softly. Evelyn rocked her gently.
Vivian glanced at the baby with cold frustration.
“A daughter cannot preserve everything generations of Ashford men built.”
Grant stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.
Celeste crawled toward him.
“Grant, I did it because I loved you.”
“You lied every day.”
“Your mother said you would never marry me without the baby.”
Grant stepped away from her.
“Was any of it real?”
Celeste’s tears ruined her makeup.
“I wanted the life we could have had.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
She could not answer.
The wedding hall doors opened.
May you like
Two financial investigators entered with uniformed officers behind them.
Vivian finally looked afraid.
