“Good,” I whispered. “Perfect timing, actually. I’m pregnant.” For the first time since I walked in, shock flickered across his face. “I was supposed to abort this baby,” I said quietly, “because he isn’t safe with the man I married. But… I won’t. The baby is innocent. And if you need an heir—then we can use this.”
The silence that followed was heavy, intense, cutting.
“Okay,” he said. “Let’s get married. When?”
“Tomorrow,” I said without hesitation. “A shotgun wedding.”
I turned and walked out of his office, feeling his eyes on my back until the elevator doors closed.
The hotel room felt too large, too quiet, too painfully safe after the house I’d escaped.
My mother sent the finalized divorce papers. I signed them immediately. I spent the afternoon gathering evidence—speaking to people who owed me favors, employees who had seen too much, friends of the family who remembered what “really” happened the night Maxon allegedly died, why Victoria left, and every rumor they tried to bury.
By evening, I had what I needed.
All of it would be sent to Grandma Madeline on her birthday during her celebration in front of every powerful business partner, friend, board member, and socialite she’d ever invited.
Let them taste humiliation.
Let them feel the ruin they crafted for me.
My phone rang. Maxon still pretending Lewis. I let it ring until it went to voicemail.
“Where are you?” he asked immediately, voice strained. “You disappeared. You didn’t come home. I’ve been calling—”
“I just… needed air,” I said softly. “Needed space.”
A beat of silence.
“Was it because of Victoria?” he asked, voice gentler. “I’m sorry. I should’ve been there. I didn’t know she would—”
“It’s fine,” I lied. “I’m okay. I just needed a night away.”
“You’ll come back tomorrow?” he asked, sounding relieved.
“Yes,” I whispered. “Tomorrow.”
“Okay,” he said warmly. “Take whatever rest you need. We also have to prepare for Grandma’s birthday.”
I closed my eyes. We said goodbye, and I dropped the phone onto the bed, my hands trembling.
The next day, I stood in my wedding dress. I glanced at the man beside me—a stranger, someone I had known for less than a week—but a strange calm settled in my chest.
“I do,” I whispered, the words barely a breath.
He echoed them without hesitation.