Page 123 of Between Secrets and Obsession
Oh God, there’s more?
“What news?” I spin around, not even bothering to smile this time. My father’s standing next to her, so I pull back my scowl the best I can.
“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, naïve 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 crossme, 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
