Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“Well…I wanted to wait to say for sure until I had my ultrasound, but I saw my doctor a couple of days ago and he confirmed it. We’re having twins!
” She claps her hands and does a little jump.
“Daddy’s gonna be so excited! Grandmother, too!
Oh my God, she’s gonna be so happy!” My father lights up in surprise.
If I wasn’t so pissed, I’d be shell-shocked too.
“Now we can go to Vegas together and share it with everyone, honey.” She wraps her arms around me in a hug.
Considering my dad is here, watching, and I don’t want him to suspect anything, I lean down and kiss her cheek. “That’s amazing, sweetie.”
It’s no Oscar-worthy performance but my dad buys it.
“Wow…this is the best news!” He wraps Victoria and me up in a big group hug.
“Congratulations!” Maddie blurts out. “Sounds like double trouble, hope you can handle it!” The smile on her face and tone in her voice is so fake that I’m surprised her head doesn’t burst with rage.
“Of course we can,” Victoria responds, placing her hand on my chest as she snuggles her way under my arm. “Especially since Liam’s moving to Vegas. We’ll have our perfect little family.”
My jaw nearly cracks at the mention of me moving. It would be over my fucking dead body before I moved to Vegas to be with Victoria.
Maddie grins forcibly. “That’s awesome. Liam loves Vegas.
He’ll feel right at home, I’m sure!” She steps back.
“Well, I’m heading in for the night. It was lovely to see you again, Mr. Evans.
” Tilting her head, she shoots a murderous smile.
“Victoria. Always a pleasure.” She bites her cheek and glares at me.
“Liam.” Then she swallows hard. “Good night.”
“Dad, go sit on the couch. I’ll meet you there. Victoria and I need a moment,” I say, grabbing her wrist and walking to the kitchen.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?” I whisper-hiss. “This isn’t what we discussed! How could you bring him into this? How could you drop this news on me without telling me first? I’m not moving there!”
She yanks her hand out of my grip, scowling. “You’re the father of these babies, whether you like it or not! Plus, what other options do you have, Liam?”
“I can get a paternity test, and once it’s proven they aren’t mine, your father will let me off the hook to divorce you. So, I hope you get your trust fund soon because the truth is about to be revealed, and your little plan will burn to ash.”
“Oh sweet, na?ve Liam,” she purrs. “Nice try.” Victoria pats my cheek as if she knows something I don’t.
“I know you’re fucking Maddie behind my back.
My security team has all the proof I need to show Daddy what you’ve been up to this last month.
” She takes a step closer, getting in my face.
“You cross me, and it won’t be just yours and Maddie’s life in danger. It’ll be your father’s, too.”
“You fucking bitch,” I spit, my hands balling into fists to try to control my anger. “You’re the one who’s had me followed.”
It all makes sense now and how she found my father.
She wanted more ways to blackmail me and now she has it.
If Johnny finds out I’ve been unfaithful in our sham of a fucking marriage, he won’t think twice about finishing the job he set out to do in the first place.
I’ll be an outsider who knows too much. But now she’s brought my dad into this, an added level of security to keep me where she wants me.
“You catch on quickly, honey. Better start packing. We leave for Vegas tomorrow.”
After I take my father home, I tell Victoria to stay in my room so I can handle my roommates. They’re going to have a hundred questions, and I’d rather they hear Victoria’s version of the truth from me than her. I need a few minutes with Maddie, but her bedroom door is locked. Fuck.
Mason and Sophie are in the kitchen, and after I tell them I’m leaving for Vegas in the morning, Sophie glares.
This surprise visit from Victoria looks suspicious since they knew I planned to fly out next week.
Maddie thinks Sophie knows we’ve been sneaking around, but both of us have denied it, so I keep up the act of being happily married.
“Dude, twins? Wow, congrats!” Mason slaps my shoulder. “You really have to leave so quickly?”
“She wants to announce it to her family in person.”
“For how long?” Sophie asks.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “We have some things to figure out first.”
She looks as if she’s not buying it, but I don’t want to poke the bear, so I excuse myself.
Instead of going to Maddie’s room again, I text her.
Liam
Please talk to me before I have to go. Let me explain.
She doesn’t respond.
Liam
I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you she was pregnant. I should have, but things were going so well, and I didn’t want to fuck up what we had. Screwing things up between us is my biggest fear, and I guess a part of me just wanted to live in our happy bubble without any of the outside noise and drama.
Again, no response.
Liam
I’m 99% positive they aren’t mine. We’ve had sex once since the ceremony, and I used a condom. The chances are low. Even if by some miracle they are, it doesn’t change how I feel about you. Please understand that.
I can see she reads my messages and use my last resort to get her to speak to me. Even if it’s to tell me off, I need to know where her head is.
Liam
You promised, Maddie. You promised that no matter what, you were mine, and I was yours.
That finally gets her attention. The jumping dots on the screen have me holding my breath.
Maddie
That was before you knocked up your WIFE, asshole. Fuck off. Go to Vegas and stay there this time.
She has every right to be pissed, and I can’t argue or sweet-talk my way out of this. Nothing I say will fix this, and I have to go through with whatever Victoria says, or she’ll serve me to her father on a fucking golden platter.
Liam
I am so sorry, baby. I’ll make this up to you.
I don’t know how but it’s all I can offer right now.
I go to bed with my heart in my throat, not knowing what the hell is going to happen to us now. I hardly sleep but finally pass out sometime around three in the morning. When I wake up at eight, Victoria’s not in bed next to me.
Shit.
The shower’s running and I hope Victoria’s in there so I can steal a few minutes with Maddie.
“Mads, let me in.” I knock, then try the doorknob and am relieved it’s not locked. But when I open it, she’s not inside. “Mads?”
“What did you do, Liam?” Sophie shouts.
I spin around, confused as hell by the fury in her eyes.
“What?”
“Where is my sister?” she shouts again.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about…” I hold up my hands to settle her down, but it only enrages her further as she takes another step toward me.
“She’s gone!” Sophie waves something in her hand.
“What do you mean?”
Mason holds her back before she can claw my eyes out.
“She left a note saying she had to get out of here and not to look for her.”
What? There’s no way. Maddie’s pissed but she wouldn’t just leave.
“Is her car here? Did she take anything?” I ask, looking around. This can’t be happening. “Did you call her?”
“No, it’s gone. She took one of my suitcases from the closet, but she must’ve left early. I didn’t hear anything.” Sophie’s frantic voice turns to fear. “And yes, I called her twenty times! Straight to voicemail.”
Victoria waltzes into the kitchen with an overly sweet smile.
Her hair’s still wet, and she’s wearing a tight shirt that shows off her bump.
There’s no doubt she’s pregnant, and she seems bigger than I’d expect for her first trimester, however, after showing me the ultrasound photo of two sacs, I’m certain it’s twins.
But I still don’t think they’re mine. She could’ve slept with dozens of men before or after the week she came here.
“Oh no, did Maddie go somewhere? I was hoping to say goodbye before we left.” Victoria looks concerned but it’s fake as shit.
Sophie narrows her gaze at me like she’s about to blow. “You better explain what the hell is going on!”
If Sophie suspects we’ve been sneaking around, then she might doubt the validity of Victoria’s and my marriage even more.
“Soph, I’ll take care of it.” I grab Victoria’s elbow and walk us into the living room.
“What the hell did you do to Maddie? Where is she?” I hiss, not in the mood for her games.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sweetie. But we better get going so we don’t keep the pilot waiting.”
Victoria told me last night we’d be taking her family’s private jet back to Vegas, which is when I’ll reveal my wrath at how angry I am right now.
She pats my chest again, smirking. She takes a step around me, but I pull her back.
“Where the fuck is she, Victoria?” I squeeze tighter. “I swear to God, you better explain right fucking now.”
She narrows her gaze, stepping closer. The corner of her lips tilts up just the slightest, fury burning in her eyes. “I warned you to behave, hubby. But you didn’t listen.”