Page 40 of Secret Baby
"The dress shop you set up for me is perfect. I wanted to work in fashion, and you made my dream possible."
"It shouldn't be enough for you. You're in the House of Morgan. I'm also investigating the people Dad left money to in his will."
"That doesn't matter to me. I want to know about my daughter."
Peter's voice became clear. "I had Ms. Montenagro, the attorney we hired to fight for our inheritance, dig up everything she could on Colt Collins's daughter and how he acquired her when you never told him."
"That's Daddy," Clara piped in as she moved her headset.
"Who's with you?" Peter's voice grew tight.
Vicki coughed then answered, "Clara Collins is in the car with me. We're heading to her Uncle John's house, and then later, we go back home."
"No, you promised to pack your bag to come stay with me, and we'd go to your dress shop."
Vicki felt heat rising in her body as she nodded to her daughter. Clara turned toward her window as she listened to her music again.
Peter smacked his lips. "I'm happy Colt is being agreeable with you. It will be better for everyone if we don't have to fight."
Her brothers both had her back. Her heart constricted. Vicki stared at her daughter. This wasn't how the conversation should go. Vicki whispered, "His mother was in the nursery the day Clara was born. Colt's a good father. Clara loves her dad, and we should talk about all this in person."
"Somedads must be loveable," Peter replied with contempt. Vicki swallowed her agreement, but then, most people did not call their last name a brand when discussing family. The House of Morgan shattered all notions of love and kindness. Peter continued, "Montenagro wants a timeline documented in case we need to press for legal action."
If Colt stayed generous, then there would be no legal action. Vicki would resume the life that she'd almost lost. She stared at the road until she saw in the mirror how Clara soaked in every word. Her heartbeat grew faster. "I'll be at John's soon. Meet us there. I bought you a coffee."
Peter coughed. "You sure that's the best place to meet? Alice is his sister."
"She's marrying our brother, John. Besides, I respect Colt, and he's been amazing with me. If I hadn't listened to our dad and then pretended to be dead, all of this would have been avoided."
"It takes two to screw up this bad, Vicki."
Despite what John claimed, Peter was not exactly like their father. "We should go. Clara and I are going to have fun in the car."
"Dad had me block Colt's calls years ago." Peter swallowed. "I never knew why."
Colt had tried to call. Vicki swallowed. Her father had used his teenage son to teach him how to run their family. "We have to go. See you there."
"Vicki is cooler than Belle. I want Vicki to marry my dad," Clara added but her eyes went to her screen for a movie and she hit play.
Vicki's eyes widened as goosebumps grew on her body.
Her brother asked, "Who is Belle?"
She ought to clue her brother in more. "Colt's fiancée."
"Colt found a woman to marry him? I'm shocked."
She'd have married him, so her brother shouldn't be so surprised. Vicki stared at the road. "Yep."
"I'm hanging up. I can't wait to talk to you in person, sis."
"See you there."
"Wait." Peter's voice became serious.
"What?"
"I should have been a better older brother to you, sis. I should have stood up to our father."
