The Fake Marriage, the Real Mistress, and the Baby He Wants Me to Abort Chapter 06

The Fake Marriage, the Real Mistress, and the Baby He Wants Me to Abort Chapter 06

Why didn’t I tell him? Because I tried.

The day my mom told me the truth, she sat me down and said it plainly.

“Claire, Julian’s going to care about what happened with his mother – of course he will.”

“Tell him now. It’ll clear the air between you.”

So I decided to tell him. I made his favorite – smoked ribs – and planned to bring it up over dinner.

But that night, he started talking about his childhood. How much his mom loved him.

How badly he wanted a real home. Then he pulled out a ring and got down on one knee.

The truth died on my tongue. I asked him one thing instead.

“Julian, does my mother’s past – does it really not bother you?”

He looked at me like I was the only person in the world and kissed my hand.

He told me it didn’t matter. Not even a little. And I believed him – so completely that I couldn’t bring myself to shatter the moment with the truth.

He was performing. Every word, every kiss, every promise – all of it was part of the act.

The memory released me. I looked at Julian — blood matting his hair, dripping into his eyes — and turned my back on him. I walked toward security.

“Claire — I’m asking you. Why didn’t you tell me?!”

He lurched forward and grabbed my wrist.

His eyes were raw and red. His grip was iron.

“If you’d told me sooner —”

“Would that have stopped you? Would you have spared me?”

“Julian, you’d already hurt me before I ever had the chance.”

“Do you remember what happened to my ear?”

I pushed my hair back and showed him what was left — the scarred, hollow place where my ear used to be. I smiled.

“Half a decade, Julian. You really committed to the role.”

“Was it exhausting? Pretending to love me?”

“Pretending to want me in your bed — that must’ve been the hardest part.”

“My compliments, Mr. Vance. Give the man an Oscar.”

Every word came out shaking. The tears were already falling — I couldn’t stop them.

“No — that’s not — it wasn’t —”

“Claire, just let me explain —”

He grabbed for my hand, tripping over his own words.

Then Chloe’s voice cut through.

“Julian, are you okay?”

“I know this hurts, but I’m your wife — your real wife.”

She was crying — those perfect, trembling tears — and then she pulled out a folded sheet of paper. An ultrasound printout.

“Julian, I’m pregnant.”

“I was going to tell you today — before Claire ruined everything.”

“You said you wanted a family. We have one now — you, me, and this baby.”

“Come back. Let’s finish what we started.”

Julian didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Chloe’s tears dried up fast. She turned and marched straight toward me.

She dropped to her knees.

“Claire, I’m begging you — leave him alone.”

“We’re married. We have a marriage license. So why are you still trying to come between us?”

“He sent you to a back-alley clinic to get rid of your baby a few days ago — and you’re still hanging on?!”

Her voice carried across the terminal. Every head in the terminal turned toward me.

Disgust. Judgment. I’d seen those looks before — I knew them by heart, and they still cut. I looked down at Chloe kneeling on that polished floor. I didn’t say a word.

I slapped her. Twice.

“That’s for pulling you out of that dead-end town. The biggest mistake of my life.”

“And that one’s for drugging his drink so you could crawl into his bed. You shameless bitch.”

I reached into my bag and pulled out the marriage certificate — the fake one Julian had paid for.

I hurled it at his face.

“Take your forged papers back, Julian. We’re done.”

“I never want to see your face again.”