Chapter 2

Vance was rushed to the hospital to have his stomach pumped.

The doctor said it was mild poisoning from improperly prepared wild mushrooms, and that caused him to hallucinate.

The news allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief, except me.

I sat on a bench in the hallway, my hands and feet ice-cold. Hallucinations could make people ramble, but they couldn't make someone invent a whole story about a hotel, a baby, and a plan to seize my trust fund.

Dad sat down beside me, his face grim. Even though we were not close, I believed that, as my father, he would stand up for me.

Yet, after a long silence, he said, "Tiana, let's put what happened tonight behind us."

I couldn't believe what he had just said.

"Dad, what do you mean?"

Dad waved his hand dismissively, looking exhausted. "Vance has a bright future ahead of him, and we've already sent out the invitations to the engagement party. He was talking crazy because of the mushrooms. You can't take it seriously."

I looked at him. "So you think the part about Vance having a child with Brie is a lie too?"

Dad's expression darkened. "She's been with me for seven years. I know her better than anyone. But you…"

He looked at me suspiciously. "Weren't you the one who had someone buy those wild mushrooms?"

I clenched my fists. "You think I poisoned Vance?"

Dad didn't respond. But his silence was an admission.

Just then, Brie walked over to us, her eyes red. When she spoke, her tone was gentle, though it carried a hint of reproach. "Tiana, Vance may not come from much, but he's going to be your husband soon. How could you hurt him just because he's more successful than you now?"

I was never one to take things lying down, so I snapped, "Brie, how dare you slander me?"

She flinched, and her tears came even faster. "Marie saw you bringing those mushrooms into the kitchen this afternoon."

Dad swiveled around and looked at me, his expression conflicted.

I snorted. "So you're saying that I'm a petty woman who can't stand my man being more talented than me, and that's why I poisoned him?"

Brie shook her head. "That's not what I meant. You're too headstrong. I'm scared you'll do something drastic. Vance nearly died, and the baby…" She trailed off, covering her mouth, as if realizing that she had let too much slip.

Dad stiffened. "Baby?"

Brie froze. Then, all of a sudden, she dropped to her knees. "Mike, I'm sorry. I'm pregnant."

Dad staggered back several steps, but soon, his shock turned into joy. He had always wanted a son to carry on the family business.

Tears streaming down her face, Brie explained, "I actually wanted to tell you after Tiana's engagement party because I was afraid she'd overthink it and that it would affect your relationship with her. I never expected Vance to start talking nonsense tonight and turn everything into a mess…"

Dad stepped forward to help her up. His movements were careful and gentle, like he was handling something precious.

Meanwhile, I stood there like an outsider. I should have been the one falling apart tonight. Yet everyone was gathered around Brie, acting as if I were the one who had done something wrong.

The fiance I'd supported with all my heart never loved me.

The man I called my father suspected me and doubted me.

It felt like a hole had been torn open in my chest, with cold wind rushing through it.

A while later, Vance regained consciousness. He leaned against the bed, his face pale. He gave no explanation, only asking, "Tiana, did you misunderstand again?"

I walked over to him. "You don't remember what you said?"

Vance rubbed his temples, looking dazed. "The doctor said I hallucinated because of the poisoning. Are you seriously going to use that nonsense against me?"

His words from earlier came rushing back to me. My tone turned biting. "Nonsense? I think you were just letting your true feelings slip! Being with me must have been so miserable for you. You sure know how to play both sides, huh?"

A flicker of guilt crossed Vance's eyes before he quickly composed himself. He replied, "You're probably just stressed about the wedding. I'll get a therapist for you."

I raised my hand and slapped him.

Vance's head snapped to the side. He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek.

Dad roared, "Enough!"

Brie cried out in panic, "Don't do anything rash! You can talk it out."

I watched their reactions, and suddenly, I found the whole thing utterly pointless. So I turned around and left.

When I reached the elevator, my phone vibrated. The butler I'd stationed at home had sent me a photo.

In the bag Brie had left in the bathroom was a prenatal report. She was eight weeks pregnant. Vance's initials were written in the section for the baby's father.

And underneath the prenatal report was a copy of my mom Peggy Roth's death certificate.

I stared hard at the abnormal drug reaction that had been circled in red.

The elevator doors opened in front of me, then closed again. It felt like my feet were rooted to the ground, leaving me unable to take a single step.