Chapter 10
Julian had discovered Vanessa’s fake pregnancy seven weeks before the gala.
What he did next was worse than simply staying silent.
He improved the lie.
The original plan belonged to Vanessa and Ethan.
Vanessa would fake the pregnancy long enough to push Julian toward marriage.
Ethan would benefit from becoming closely associated with the Lombardis while his company fought for the museum contract.
When Julian discovered the deception, he had every reason to expose them.
Instead he saw his own problem.
His $600,000 investment in Ethan’s company was already in danger.
If the fake pregnancy exploded publicly, Ethan could lose the contract, lenders could panic, and Julian might lose most of his money.
So Julian proposed a solution.
Keep the pregnancy alive through the ocean-conservation gala.
The museum board would vote on Ethan’s contract the following week.
After the vote, Vanessa would announce a private miscarriage.
No baby.
No questions about a birth.
No need to maintain the lie.
Julian even approved a second prosthetic because Vanessa complained the first was becoming worn.
That was why two existed.
That was why Julian carried the floral bag from the cloakroom.
That was why he stopped asking about medical appointments.
And that was why he went pale when Avice exposed the belly during the gala.
He was not learning the truth.
He was watching his plan collapse.
Cesare listened without interrupting.
When Julian finished, Cesare asked:
“And Avice?”
Julian’s voice broke.
“I swear I never told Vanessa to scare her.”
“That wasn't the question.”
Julian looked up.
“You knew your daughter believed she was getting a sibling.”
Silence.
“You let her draw pictures for a baby you knew did not exist.”
Julian began crying.
Cesare continued.
“You let her ask whether it was a boy or girl.”
“I know.”
“You let her believe your family was changing.”
“I know.”
“And every day you could have ended it.”
Julian lowered his head.
Cesare finally understood the real betrayal.
Vanessa used Avice’s fear.
Ethan used family access.
But Julian used his own daughter’s trust as collateral for a financial decision.
Three clues had pointed toward him from the beginning.
His pale reaction.
His repeated pressure for Ethan’s contract.
His sudden refusal to attend medical appointments.
Cesare had wanted his son to be the victim of the pregnancy lie.
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He was not.
He had become one of its authors.
