Semua Bab THE BARREN EX-WIFE WHO CAME BACK: Bab 121 - Bab 130

VANESSA'S POVThe moment we arrived back at the Lancaster family mansion, Nicholas practically dragged me through the entrance, past the startled staff, and straight to the east wing.To our suite.He didn't say a word the entire way, his hand still gripping mine like he was afraid I'd disappear if he let go.The door to our suite slammed shut behind us with a finality that made my heart race.Nicholas finally released my hand, stalking across the room to the window, his shoulders tense, and his breathing still rough.I stood there by the door, suddenly feeling the full weight of everything that had just happened crash down on me.The funeral.Patricia in the grave.Isabella on the ground.Sebastian bleeding.The fight."Oh God," I whispered, my hands starting to shake. "Oh God, Nicholas, what did I do?""Vanessa—""I ruined it." My voice cracked. "Grandma Mae's funeral. I completely ruined it. She deserved better than that. She deserved a dignified, peaceful ceremony, and instead I—I

VANESSA'S POV"Maya is here!" Elijah said again, his voice full of innocent excitement. "She came over to play, and we've been playing games together!"The air left my lungs in a rush.Maya.Maya Lancaster.The same little girl who had lied about my son.Who had told everyone—teachers, parents, and the school administration—that Elijah had pushed, hurt and assaulted her.A lie that had gotten CPS called to my house.A lie that had resulted in my son being ripped from my arms, screaming and crying for me while I collapsed on the floor, helpless to stop them.A lie orchestrated by Isabella to punish me for existing."Elijah," I managed to call out over the phone, my voice shaking. "Baby, what is Maya doing there? I thought—I thought I told you to stay away from her.""I know, Mommy." His voice got quieter, more uncertain. "But she came over with her nanny, and Sarah said it was okay, and... and Maya also said she was sorry for what she did.""She said she was sorry?" I repeated, my hear

SEBASTIAN'S POVThere was a soft knock on the door about twenty minutes after Isabella left."Come in," I called out, still standing by the window, still replaying the humiliation of the day over and over in my mind.The door opened and Maria—one of the household nurses we kept on as a maid—entered carrying a medical kit."Mr. Lancaster," she called out professionally, her eyes taking in the damage to my face without comment. "Your mother asked me to come tend to your injuries."Of course she did.My mother had asked. Not Isabella.My wife hadn't even bothered to check if I needed medical attention. She'd been too busy ranting about Vanessa and Nicholas to care that I was bleeding."Thank you, Maria," I said, moving to sit in one of the leather chairs by the fireplace.She worked in efficient silence, cleaning the blood from my face with gentle swabs, applying antiseptic that stung like hell but I refused to flinch.The cut above my eyebrow would probably scar.The split in my lip wa

VANESSA'S POVI chose a black pencil dress—elegant, understated, appropriate. I paired it with simple heels and minimal jewelry. If I was going to walk into that room, I was going to look like I belonged there.Even if I felt like an imposter.Nicholas was waiting for me when I emerged from the bedroom, looking devastatingly handsome in a dark suit that probably cost more than my first car. His eyes swept over me, something flickering in their depths that made my stomach flip."Ready?" he asked, offering his arm.I took it, feeling the solid warmth of him through the fabric of his jacket."As I'll ever be."We walked through the mansion in silence, my heels clicking against the marble floors. I could feel the tension radiating from Nicholas, could see the tight set of his jaw. This wasn't just a will reading for him—this was facing his entire family after what had happened at the funeral.After he'd beaten Sebastian bloody in front of everyone.The study was on the second floor—a mass

VANESSA'S POVFor one terrible, frozen moment, I saw my death reflected in the knife Isabella carried to hurt me.She was about to stab me. Then Nicholas moved.His arm wrapped around my waist like an iron band, yanking me backward with such force that I stumbled into him. The knife sliced through empty air where my chest had been a heartbeat before, missing me by inches."Isabella, put the knife down," Nicholas's voice came from behind me, deadly calm even as his body formed a protective wall between me and the blade.But Isabella wasn't listening.She was advancing, tears running down her face, her eyes wild and unfocused. The knife trembled in her grip but never fell down."Do you know how long I've hated you?" she spat, her voice breaking on every word. "How long I've wanted to destroy you? Even when we were best friends—ESPECIALLY when we were best friends—I hated you! Perfect Vanessa with her perfect life and her perfect husband who looked at her like she was the only woman in