Chapter 3
The museum’s event director provided the first independent timeline.
Vanessa had used the private donor cloakroom repeatedly for almost four months.
At first, nobody thought anything of it.
Pregnant guests needed privacy.
Vanessa often changed gowns before photographs.
Then the event director remembered a delivery.
Two custom maternity prosthetics.
Ordered through a theatrical supplier the museum occasionally used for educational exhibitions.
Cesare stared at the invoice.
“Who paid?”
The director checked.
“Cole Marine Holdings.”
Ethan’s company.
The order was placed nineteen weeks earlier.
Vanessa had publicly announced her pregnancy seventeen weeks earlier.
Cesare called Ethan’s attorney instead of Ethan.
He requested an explanation through formal channels.
That decision surprised everyone.
The old Cesare would have summoned Ethan personally.
The old Cesare had also just struck him in front of eighty guests.
Cesare was beginning to understand that anger produced spectacle faster than truth.
Meanwhile, Julian arrived at Cesare’s house.
He demanded to see Avice.
Cesare allowed ten minutes in the sitting room with the door open.
Avice remained beside her grandfather.
Julian crouched.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
Avice looked at the new paper turtle.
Julian swallowed.
“I’m sorry about last night.”
Avice finally looked up.
“Did you know?”
Julian froze.
Cesare said nothing.
Avice repeated:
“Did you know her tummy comes off?”
Julian’s face lost color.
“No.”
The answer came softly.
Avice studied him.
Then she returned to her turtle.
Julian stood.
Outside the room, Cesare closed the door.
“You lied to me on the phone.”
Julian’s eyes hardened.
“I told her no.”
“That wasn’t what I said.”
Julian started walking away.
Cesare caught his arm.
Not violently.
Enough to stop him.
“When did you first suspect?”
Julian pulled free.
“I said I didn't know.”
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Cesare watched his son leave.
He no longer believed the fake pregnancy belonged only to Vanessa and Ethan.
