Chapter 4
Vanessa stopped defending Julian once she understood her father had been part of the condition.
That did not make me forgive her.
She still tore a child’s gift in half.
She still struck Elsie.
But betrayal rearranges alliances quickly.
“You knew?” she demanded.
Julian looked exhausted.
“I knew he preferred it.”
“You told me your father didn’t care.”
“My father doesn’t choose who I date.”
I almost laughed.
Apparently I chose less than Vanessa’s father did.
She stepped closer.
“You lied to me about having a daughter.”
Julian snapped:
“You said you’d never date a man with one.”
“So you made her disappear?”
He looked away.
Vanessa slapped him.
I did not stop her.
Not because he deserved violence.
Because I was busy noticing Ethan.
He did not look surprised.
He looked irritated.
That told me the romance had never mattered much to him.
“What happens if Julian marries Vanessa?”
Ethan turned toward me.
“Nothing.”
I smiled.
“No.”
He stared.
“Something.”
Julian stepped in quickly. “Dad.”
I ignored him.
“The Cole family doesn’t open its doors for free. Vanessa’s father doesn’t care enough about romance to condition his business relationships on it unless there is another reason.”
Ethan’s face hardened.
I waited.
Vanessa looked at her brother.
“What did Daddy promise him?”
No answer.
Her voice rose.
“Ethan.”
He finally said:
“Expansion.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“Into what?” I asked.
“Family events. Hospitality. Private fundraising. Political dinners.”
Legitimate influence.
The kind that creates power without making noise.
Useful.
Valuable.
And the Cole family wanted Julian, not me, as the bridge.
I looked at my son.
“You weren’t only hiding Elsie from Vanessa.”
Silence.
“You were building a separate center of influence.”
His jaw tightened.
“Inside the family.”
“No.”
I leaned closer.
“Beside it.”
May you like
That was different.
And far more dangerous.
