My Superpower Was Hearing Lies And My Weakness Was Believing Him Chapter 09

My Superpower Was Hearing Lies And My Weakness Was Believing Him Chapter 09

On Margaret’s sixtieth birthday, I hesitated for a long time, but in the end, I went.

She had always been genuine with me. When Nathan first brought me home, she was the one who was overjoyed.

She’d said, “Emily, I always wanted a daughter. Don’t be scared, this is your home.”

Over the years, she’d warned Nathan again and again, “Don’t you dare hurt Emily.”

When my parents died, she gave me the warmth of family.

When I walked into the ballroom, Nathan shot to his feet, lips trembling.

The room went quiet.

“Isn’t that Nathan’s—”

“Shh. She finally came back. He’s been out of his mind.”

Margaret rose from her seat, her steps unsteady, her hair half-white. Her eyes reddened the instant she saw me.

“Emily.” She took my hands and held them tight.

I pulled a jade bracelet from my bag, the one she’d given me on my wedding day, a family heirloom she’d pressed into my palm. I’d polished it carefully. Now I held it out to her with both hands.

“Margaret, I’m returning this.”

Her tears fell at once.

But she didn’t plead. She didn’t say “reconsider.” She just held my hands, then slowly let go and accepted the bracelet.

“My son didn’t deserve you,” she whispered. “You’re a wonderful woman, Emily. We’re the ones who lost you.”

My throat tightened, and grief welled up again.

Then a sharp laugh cut through the air.

Vanessa stood at the entrance, her belly huge.

“What are you doing here?” Nathan snapped, pale. “You don’t belong here.”

She gave a bitter smirk. “Can’t I bring my child to meet his family? Why is that barren woman treated like gold, while I, carrying your son, can’t even get through the door?”

Whispers erupted.

“No wonder Emily left, he had a love child behind her back.”

“All that devotion, and look what he did.”

“I heard Emily lost a baby too. Bet that woman had something to do with it.”

Nathan’s face darkened. He grabbed Vanessa’s arm. “Have you lost your mind?”

“You drove me crazy!” She yanked free, eyes burning. “You stopped taking my calls. You never visit. You only care about her.”

“Shut up!” Nathan barked.

Vanessa laughed, tears spilling down her cheeks. She backed into the center of the room and pulled a kitchen knife from her purse.

Screams erupted.

“You won’t accept us? Then I’ll die right here!”

“Vanessa, stop!”

“Enough.”

Margaret stepped forward, towering over Vanessa. The younger woman looked up, makeup smeared.

“Are you claiming this is my son’s child?” Margaret’s voice was ice. “Then let me tell you clearly, even if it were his, you would never be part of this family. And it’s not.”

Nathan froze. Vanessa went white.

“Bring it,” Margaret said. A servant handed over a folder.

As Nathan flipped through it, his face draining of color, Margaret turned back to Vanessa.

“The thugs who wrecked your shop, they were your accomplices. That baby’s father is their ringleader, Derek Moss.”

Margaret shut her eyes. When they opened, all she gave Nathan was a look of pure disappointment.

“This was a setup from day one. That baby was nothing but a bargaining chip to them.”

“And Vanessa, your boyfriend, the one with all those outstanding gambling debts, he was waiting for you to drain the Coles’ bank account and bail him out. Am I wrong?”

Vanessa collapsed, shaking, unable to speak.