After Losing My Legs I Learned My Fiancé Had a Fake Heart Chapter 07

After Losing My Legs I Learned My Fiancé Had a Fake Heart Chapter 07

The next day, he had his assistant wire a sum to the children’s home. The memo read: [Keep a close

eye on her.]

During a corporate site visit, he ran into Ms. Margaret Vance, the director. She wasn’t alone. Three

kids trailed behind her.

Simon’s irritation flared. Did these people not understand who was funding them? He’d barely sent

the money, and they were already here playing Vera’s messengers.

He tried to breeze past with his team, but the director’s next words stopped him in his tracks.

“We actually came to thank Mr. Rhodes in person. Miss Channing hasn’t visited in a while, and the

children really miss her.”

Simon turned back slowly, expression unreadable. Ms. Vance chose her words carefully. “We’re here to say thank you, mostly. Summer’s almost here, and we were worried about the new kids-no AC in their rooms, and then your donation came through.”

“The kids wanted to do something, so they baked you some cookies.”

Simon didn’t take them. “What did you mean, ‘she hasn’t visited in a while’?”

The director blinked. “Since you and Miss Channing became our benefactors, she’s come by once a week like clockwork. She’d bring snacks, play games with the kids.”

“Her last visit, she told us she was about to do something big, and if she pulled it off, she and Mr. Rhodes were finally getting married. The kids were ecstatic-they kept asking her to promise she’d

bring wedding cake for everyone.”

“But it’s been over a week, and she hasn’t shown up.”

Simon’s laugh was hollow. “What did she promise you to lie like this? Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“Mr. Donovan, pull the funding.”

The director’s face went pale. She had no idea what she’d said wrong, only that she needed to

apologize. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Rhodes. The children need this money. Please, just… please

reconsider.”

Mr. Donovan, the assistant, rushed over. “The board wants you to see today’s paper.”

Simon grabbed it and turned to leave. The second his eyes hit the front page, he exploded. “Who authorized this? I told them to bury it!”

Mr. Donovan hesitated. “It was… under orders from Mrs. Rhodes.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Vera would never-”

“It was Miss Chloe Channing.”

Simon pinched the bridge of his nose. “Get PR on this. Recall and destroy every copy.” He turned to go, but one child grabbed his sleeve. “Did you marry someone else? Did you leave Miss Vera?”

Simon let out a bitter laugh. “Stay out of grown-up business, kid.”

“Our teacher says men who do that are trash.”

Ms. Vance rushed to cover the child’s mouth. “They broke up. She even gave his gifts back. It was a

clean break. Not… that other thing.”

Simon’s voice sharpened. “We did not break up.”

A different kid spoke up. “Stop lying to yourself. Miss Vera left. She threw your presents away, and you married another lady. If that’s not a breakup, what is?”

Simon’s pulse jumped. Vera left? That was impossible. That scenario had never once entered his

mind. Vera couldn’t leave.

He was about to snap at the child when his phone rang. It was the hospital.

“Dr. Rhodes, housekeeping found a ring in the VIP suite. It’s engraved with your initials and Miss Channing’s. Did she leave it behind when she was discharged? Should I put it in your desk drawer,

or-”

Simon’s mind blanked. She hadn’t taken it with her? How? That ring was the one he’d slid onto her finger the night he proposed. She once lost it in a pond and spent three days dredging it out. She would never let it fall to the floor and just leave it. Unless… she didn’t want it anymore.

The thought hit him like ice water. She didn’t want the ring. Did that mean she didn’t want him either?

A monstrous terror swallowed him whole.