My Lawyer Fiancé Left Me at the Altar for a Pregnant Fraud Chapter 01

My Lawyer Fiancé Left Me at the Altar for a Pregnant Fraud Chapter 01

The day of the engagement reception at The Roosevelt Ballroom.

An old man stormed in, dragging a young woman by the wrist.

He held up a positive pregnancy test report.

“Caspian Lowell, you’re a big-shot lawyer. You knocked up my daughter, and now you’re trying to marry someone else?”

His voice cracked with rage. He wasn’t faking it.

Every guest froze. Then every eye turned to me in my champagne-colored gown.

Eight years together. Caspian was always calm, always in control. He didn’t cheat. I knew him.

I clutched my crystal champagne flute and stepped forward, ready to defend my fiancé.

Caspian moved faster.

He walked straight up to the old man, his voice steady.

“Sir, if Camila really is carrying my child, I’ll take full responsibility.”

The flute shattered in my hand.

Then Caspian raised his own glass to the crowd. His voice cut through the silence.

“I apologize, everyone. Today’s engagement is canceled. You’ll be hearing about a different wedding soon.”

He grabbed the old man and the girl,Camila,and strode toward the exit.

I picked up my gown and blocked his path. My voice came out steadier than I felt.

“Explain. What exactly does that mean?”

He shoved me aside with one arm. His tone was ice.

“It means what it means, Marlowe. Don’t make this public.”

My nails dug into my palms until they drew blood.

He thought this wasn’t already public?

Years in the courtroom. I thought I’d learned to compartmentalize anything.

But your fiancé walking out mid-reception? That gutted me anyway.

My chest heaved. Rage or grief,I couldn’t tell anymore.

Sage Holloway caught my arm before I could go after him.

“Marlowe. Stop.” Her eyes swept the room.

“You chase him now, you’re the desperate woman. That’s all anyone sees.”

I followed her gaze across the crowd.

My lawyer’s instinct surfaced. I held myself still.

She was right.

Caspian had invited half the firm’s client list. Senior partners. Rival attorneys hungry for gossip.

If I ran after him, I’d give them a scene.

The firm would take the hit. Lowell & Finch LLP couldn’t afford that. I had people depending on me.

But my heart kept slamming against my ribs. I couldn’t catch my breath.

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and turned to the room. My smile felt like broken glass.

“I’m sorry everyone had to see that.”

“You all know Caspian. The man doesn’t go to bars. He doesn’t party. He goes to work and he comes home. I’m not here to make excuses for him, but I believe there’s more to this story.”

“Please give him the time to sort this out.”

I got the words out. Barely.

Sage caught me before my knees buckled.

A few guests offered tepid applause.The whispering dissolved into a murmur.

Sage steered me into a private suite and closed the door.

I collapsed.

Tears I’d been holding back for ten minutes poured out.

The formal reception was business. The family dinner was scheduled for tonight.

Thank God we hadn’t mixed the two.

Thank God our parents weren’t in that room. Someone would’ve started throwing punches.

Eight years. Eight years and he just walked.

Sage knelt beside me.

“Marlowe, breathe. Something’s off. You know Caspian. You know he wouldn’t do this.”

I did know him.

That sharp jaw. Those broad shoulders. Women threw themselves at him constantly—clients, associates, strangers at charity galas.

If he wanted to stray, he’d had a thousand chances.

He never did. Not once.

But today he panicked. I’d never seen Caspian Lowell panic before. And he’d panicked for her.

My hand shook as I grabbed Sage’s arm. “Call him. I need to hear it from him

Sage nodded and hit his number. The line connected.

His voice came through calm and familiar. “Sage. What is it?”

I snatched the phone. “It’s me.”

“What is going on with Camila Quinn?”

Silence.

My heart stopped.

Then his voice came through. Cold. Final.

“Marlowe. I’m sorry.”

The floor dropped away beneath me.

Everything went black.