by Nadia Lee
Vanessa shook her head. “I thought she was another one of Dad’s, so I went over to confront him.”
“Well, you shouldn’t have.”
“Why not? It was important to me. That’s when he told me I wasn’t his daughter.”
Ceinlys closed her eyes. “I told that boy never to mention my name.”
“Who was he? What was he like?”
“A poet I met at a party. He was dashing and interesting, and unlike Salazar, he had no money or prospects. But he made me feel like I was the most precious thing in the world. Which is probably why I fell for him that night.” Ceinlys shook her head. “And it was only the one time. I told him it was over and never to approach me again. He was upset, but he accepted my decision. That’s the convenient thing about those wounded artist types. They think nobody understands them and the whole world is against them.” She shook her head. “It was quite easy to persuade him I was a mercenary harlot who was too interested in money to be with him.”
Vanessa flinched, hating the way her mother talked about herself. That was the same horrible stuff that some jerks whispered behind her back—Ceinlys Pryce loved Salazar’s money too much to divorce him. But given how much her mother doted on her children, Vanessa suspected it was losing custody that had kept her with her husband in the early years. “What was his name?”
“He called himself Klein.”
“Is that his real name?”
“I have no idea. Never particularly bothered to find out. It wasn’t important.”
Vanessa bit her inner cheek. What little patience she had was seeping away, but it would be pointless to take it out on her mom. “Did you tell him about me?”
“No. I didn’t want to give him an excuse to cling. He couldn’t have been with me in any case. It simply wouldn’t have worked.”
“But the daughter he had with another woman seems to have found me somehow.”
“You don’t know if she’s telling the truth. She might be conning all of us. I’d ignore her if I were you. Or, if she proves persistent, obtain a restraining order. It wouldn’t be difficult.”
“I plan to check her out before I do anything,” Vanessa said. Then unable to help herself, she asked, “Did you love him?”
Ceinlys shook her head. “I enjoyed the way he made me feel, but I never loved him. By then I knew too much about how relationships worked to give in to a silly fantasy.”
Vanessa thought back to Justin, how he made her feel safe and cared for, and how that turned her insides gooey and warm. “How do you separate the two?”
“Quite easily. I remind myself of the one time when I didn’t, and how it hurt me.”
“If you regret marrying Dad, why didn’t you divorce him earlier? Even if you didn’t get anything in the settlement, you would’ve been able to start over with another man. One who might have loved you and given you children.”
Ceinlys’s eyes were sad even as she smiled. “Once was enough, dear. I couldn’t do it again.” She folded her slim hands together. “Are you going to tell your brothers?”
“Yes. They should know.”
“I see. Well, that probably is the right thing to do.” Ceinlys uncrossed her legs and placed both feet flat on the floor. “Is there anything else you want to know?”
“Yes. How is everything going for you?”
Ceinlys’s smile was genuine this time. “Oh, marvelously. I’ve never been better.”
Chapter Twenty
After a brief internal debate, Vanessa decided to have the meeting at her place. Mark offered one of his restaurants, but that was too public. She bought some pre-made finger foods and hors d’oeuvres from the local organic grocery store and laid everything out. Her brothers could eat like horses, although she wasn’t sure how much appetite they’d have once she dropped her bomb.
She rubbed clammy hands down her denim capris. Nerves fluttered in her belly, and jittery energy crackled along her skin.
Justin laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Hey, it’s going to fine.”
“Yeah,” she said tightly, and forced a smile. “Of course.”
They didn’t have to wait very long. All her brothers—except Shane—showed up within five minutes of each other, entering her living room one after another. Jane and Hilary had also come, since they were more or less family now as well.
Vanessa had always thought of her place as large and comfortable, but with so many people inside she felt claustrophobic.
Breathe. You can do this.
“Thanks for coming, everyone,” she said, rubbing her hands together.
“I don’t know what’s so important that we have to talk face-to-face,” Dane said, his voice cool. “You could’ve just emailed us.”
“This is…extremely personal,” Vanessa said. “Why don’t we sit down?”
“You mind if I grab something to eat first? I haven’t had a bite since ten thirty,” Mark said.
She shook her head, amazed her restaurant owning brother went hungry. “Yeah, fine. Let’s get some food and sit down then. I think it’s better I say it when you’re seated.”
Dane gave her an odd look. “What did you do?”
“Nothing,” she muttered.
“Did you hear from Shane?” Iain asked.
“No. But I saw Ginger with some other guy.”
A stunned silence filled the room. Then Dane erupted. “What?”
“Justin was there too.”
“That bitch.”
“I wouldn’t be too quick to judge,” Justin said dryly. “She said Shane dumped her.”
“She’s lying,” Dane said. “That boy’s been whupped since high school.”
“Maybe he became un-whupped,” Vanessa said. “Regardless, if he decided he no longer wants her and broke it off cleanly, it’s all good. They’ll be spared the expense and hassle of a wedding.”
Dane’s cold look said he still held Ginger in the wrong, but Vanessa ignored it. He’d think whatever he wanted, and the issue between Shane and Ginger wasn’t something she wanted to talk about.
“So is that why you wanted to have us here?” Iain asked.
“Dane’s sort of right about this one. You could’ve just texted us,” Mark said.
“No. Ginger is actually kind of…minor news. Please sit down.”
They did, including Jane and Hilary, who were looking at Vanessa with concern.
Vanessa stayed on her feet and clasped her hands together. “There’s no easy way to say this, so… I met my half-sister recently.”
Everyone except Justin and Dane froze. Dane sighed and said, “Do you suppose we can sue the condom company Dad used? This is getting ridiculous.”
“Is this half-sister for real?” Iain asked.
Mark gulped down some water. “Does she want fifty million bucks too?”
“No. She’s actually, um, not related to Salazar at all. Or…you.”
“Huh? But if she’s your half-sis—”
“She and I share a father. And it’s not…Dad. Mom took a lover back in the day and she’s his daughter.” Vanessa looked around. “Just like I am.”
Dane’s expression twisted like he’d just eaten a bug. “Let me guess. Now that she found out you’re a rich man’s wife, she wants to share in the bounty.”
She flinched. That was the first thing Dane was worried about? “It wasn’t quite like that. She said her mother had cancer.”
“What does that have to do with you?” Dane asked.
“She asked me to help pay for her mother’s treatment.”
Dane laughed. “Don’t tell me you fell for that line. You’re a lawyer!”
Vanessa scowled. “What does being a lawyer have to do with this?”
“Because I’m sure you’ve heard the sorts of lies people tell to get something for nothing. Haven’t you dealt with cases that are essentially legal extortion? Everyone has a mother or child with cancer when they discover a rich relative.”
She hated it when Dane was right, if for n
o other reason than that it only made him more cynical. “I’m pretty sure she’s not expecting me to wire her money right this minute.”
Dane snorted.
“I’m having her investigated,” Justin said. “So don’t worry.”
“Well, it’s nice that somebody’s thinking things through. No matter what, I still wouldn’t give her a penny. If you do, you’re going to be inundated with people giving you the same sob story,” Dane said.
“I doubt that,” Mark said.
Dane’s lip curled. “Do you think Mom’s only had one lover? If they think there’s money to be had, they’ll all come out of the woodwork with their hands open. Mark my words, Vanessa. You’re going to draw a big fat target on your back if you’re not careful.”
“Fine. I’ll take that into consideration.” It was better to give in than to argue endlessly with Dane. He saw the bad in everyone.
There was a general silence that stretched. Finally, Vanessa couldn’t take it any longer. “Is…that all any of you have to say?”
“Did you expect something else?” Dane asked.
Hilary spoke up. “I think she means the thing about how she’s not Salazar’s daughter.”
“What’s there to say?” Iain shrugged. “Did you think we might not consider you our sister because of that?”
“You’re still our sister.” Dane’s tone was flat as though he was reciting an encyclopedia entry. “Same mother.”
Mark rolled his eyes. “Could you be any less sensitive?” He turned to Vanessa. “You’re our sister. Nothing’s changed. The years we spent growing up together didn’t vanish because you learned that you’re not Dad’s daughter.” Suddenly, his eyes widened. “Is this why you wanted to talk here? You were worried about our reaction?”
Vanessa nodded. “I didn’t take the news very well when I found out.”
“Aw, jeez.”
“It’s pretty shocking news,” Jane said. “But I don’t think people are going to love you any less for who your father is. Or isn’t. You had no control over that.”
Tears sprang to Vanessa’s eyes. Sniffling, she wiped them away impatiently. It was so silly for her to cry when there was nothing but relief in her heart. It had to be the pregnancy hormones.
“You shouldn’t have stressed about it. It’s bad for you and your baby,” Hilary said. “Happy thoughts. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Vanessa nodded, praying Hilary was right.
* * *
Hilary and Jane decided to stay with Vanessa, so Justin asked Dane for a ride to the Pryce mansion to pick up her car. The butler hadn’t returned it yet, and he didn’t feel like waiting any longer.
As the Lamborghini made its way through the traffic at exactly the speed limit, Justin said, “Don’t ever try to manipulate Vanessa again.”
A beat, then Dane said, “What’s this about?”
“Her drive to make partner.”
Dane laughed, the sound dry. “And she wonders why lawyers have shitty reputations. Did she tell you what she was originally planning to do?”
Justin tilted his head.
“Child advocate. Rewriting happy endings for kids with fucked up family lives…like that would retroactively change her childhood. But going into that field wasn’t going to work.”
“Why not?”
“Grandmother would’ve staged a heart attack…and probably blamed Mom for it. Mom would’ve been mortified. Dad probably would’ve found another woman to bang so he could pretend everything was fine. And Vanessa would’ve realized soon enough nothing can change the past.
“She’s better off working for the bloodsuckers. They don’t give you false hope or pretend to be something that they’re not. But now that she’s your wife, I’ll let you deal with her.” Dane stopped the car in front of the mansion.
Justin climbed out, and Dane drove away. Was he right about her family’s potential reaction? Given how close she was to her mother, the whole mess would’ve been devastating for her.
It was strange to think Dane had actually done her a favor by challenging her—in his own way—to make partner. He wasn’t the nurturing, caring type.
Shaking his head, Justin looked at the mansion. It was brightly lit, illuminating a garden full of animal-shaped shrubs and a cheery water fountain. But what dark shadows lurked inside.
When Justin rang, it was a middle-aged housekeeper who answered. She was short, with a comfortably rounded face. A polite smile didn’t do anything to alleviate her homeliness, something Ceinlys had undoubtedly taken into consideration. It was one thing for her husband to have mistresses in other cities, something else to have one under the same roof.
“I’m Justin Sterling.” He gestured at Vanessa’s Mercedes. “Here to pick it up.”
“Oh, you’re her husband.” The housekeeper’s smile gained warmth. “Is she all right? I heard glass breaking while she was in Mr. Pryce’s library.”
“What are you talking about?”
Lines deepened between her eyebrows. “I think he might have thrown something against the wall while yelling ‘Get out.’ An awful argument.”
“Are you sure?” Salazar knew Vanessa was pregnant. How could he throw things at her?
“I cleaned up the broken glass.”
Fury like an Arctic storm whipped through him. “Where is Salazar?”
“In his study. The second floor, fourth door to the right.”
Justin took the winding stairs two at a time to the upper level, where the ceiling was as high as a cathedral’s. The study had double doors, and he wrenched them open.
“Justin. What a surprise,” Salazar said from his desk. His rolled up sleeves revealed ropey arm muscles underneath age-thinned skin. He smelled faintly of shower gel, and moisture glistened in his hair.
“Is it true you threw a glass at my wife?”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“She’ll try to protect you, so she won’t tell me the truth.”
“Why would she do that? She’s not even my child. Didn’t she tell you?”
Tension tightened Justin’s neck and shoulders. The nerve at the back of his head throbbed. He dragged in some air. “Even though you raised her as your daughter, thankfully she’s not like you. But I’m different. Don’t you ever raise your voice or use violence against my wife.”
Salazar’s eyebrow rose with an arrogance that could only have come from a lifetime of living impervious to harm. “Or what?”
“I’ll ruin you.”
“Ruin me? That’s a good one. You’re too much like Vanessa, always too soft-hearted for her own good. That’s why she married you, isn’t it?”
Justin gave him a cold smile. “I’m Barron Sterling’s heir. Not even her pleas would change my mind should I decide to destroy you. Surely you’ve heard why Barron’s wife never tried to know what he was up to.”
Everyone knew the story. Ethel Sterling hadn’t wanted to get involved in her husband’s dealings because her interference or suggestion for leniency would only egg him on to be harsher than he’d intended.
Justin continued, “Vanessa is my wife, not to mention pregnant with my child. You’ll show her the respect she deserves. Do you understand?”
Salazar glared at him, and Justin glared right back. Finally the older man sat back and waved negligently. “Fine.”
Justin breathed in with satisfaction and left the house in Vanessa’s car. Underneath the leather was the scent of her. It was good that he’d come and found out about Salazar’s unacceptable behavior toward Vanessa. But she should’ve told Justin from the beginning. He didn’t want to worry that she was hiding things from him, especially if they were things that hurt her. His parents had always been open with each other, and he had a sinking feeling that without that, their marriage was a house built on a crumbling foundation.
Chapter Twenty-One
Since Vanessa was forced into a long vacation, she decided she and Justin should go out of town. It wasn’t often she was given two
weeks off—in fact, she couldn’t think of the last time—and she didn’t want to stay in town and risk running into Peggy again.
She didn’t seem dangerous, but now that Vanessa was calmer, she realized Justin and Dane had valid concerns about the woman’s true motives. Besides, the way Peggy had revealed herself only when she thought she could get something and the way she’d made the first contact under false pretense weighed on Vanessa’s mind. There was probably some desperate anxiety on Peggy’s part, but at the same time, Vanessa would’ve preferred honesty from the very beginning. Now she felt like she couldn’t trust Peggy entirely. She was like a witness behaving badly—withholding information here and there, only divulging more when she had no choice. Witnesses like that often changed their stories as well.
“You know, we should visit your mother,” Vanessa said in the dark, her voice low and mellow. Justin had taken her so tenderly earlier, and her body was still quivering from the liquid pleasure that lingered. She pressed her back closer to him. She liked the way he enveloped her at night entirely too much, but she couldn’t pull away. “I’m sure she’s heard about our wedding and wants to see us face-to-face.” She’d met Blanche Sterling socially years ago, but didn’t really know much about Justin’s mother.
“She called me a few days ago. She wants to see you too.”
“Are you up for a trip? I don’t know what your schedule is like.”
“My schedule’s flexible. We can go whenever you feel like.”
Vanessa frowned as a thought occurred to her. “Do you think she’d rather fly out to see us?”
“No. She doesn’t travel anymore.”
“Why not? I remember how she used to travel a lot with your father.”
“After he passed away, she sort of became a hermit. She doesn’t even travel for family Thanksgivings.”
“I’m sorry. That’s kind of tough. Where does she live now?”