Cindy froze. Her voice cracked. “What kidnapping? What are you even talking about?”
Panic surged as she punched into her phone, jaw tight. She wired him $2,000 with a message: [Try this again and you won’t see another cent.]
Robert frowned at the tiny transfer but staggered to his feet anyway. He blew Cindy a gross, sloppy kiss.
“Fine, fine. I’m out–for today. Don’t forget to miss me, sweetheart.”
As he shuffled off, Cindy finally exhaled, her body loosening like a coiled spring.
She was just about to spin a cover story when she looked up–and froze.
Emory was already in Robert’s path, blocking the doorway.
His voice came low and rough. “You said something about a kidnapping five years ago? What do you know?”
And just like that, an image hit him—Vivian, pale, pleading, repeating herself like no one was listening.
For the first time, a voice deep inside whispered: ‘Maybe… you got it all wrong.‘
“Oh, I know plenty,” Robert said with a greasy chuckle, rubbing his fingers together. “Just depends on how much it’s worth to you.”
“Dad, stop!” Cindy’s voice shot up as panic set in.
She rushed to them like a cat on fire, trying to shove him out the door.
“He’s just some drunk lunatic! He’ll say anything for cash. You’re seriously gonna believe HIM over me? A homeless nobody?”
Tears welled in Cindy’s eyes, slipping down her cheeks like her heart had just shattered.
But Catherine wasn’t buying it. She grabbed Cindy’s arm, voice icy. “Give him the money. Let him talk.”
Robert pocketed the $50K check with a low whistle, leaned back against the couch, and got comfy.
“Not much to it,” he said, casual as ever. “Cindy hated Vivian, so she faked a kidnapping to turn you all against her. That whole ‘depression‘ act? Total scam. She’s been twisted since she was a toddler.”
He smirked. “When she was three, she stuffed nails into another kid’s shoes just ‘cause they wouldn’t share toys. Nearly wrecked the poor kid’s foot. That’s when I dumped her at the orphanage.”
He let out a laugh. “Didn’t think anyone would actually take her in like treasure.”
Done talking, Robert didn’t even glance at Emory or Catherine–both looking like they’d aged a decade in seconds. He slipped the check into his pocket and turned to leave.
Passing Andrew, he paused, something clicking. He gave him a mocking pat on the shoulder. “Oh, and you–what a joke. Cindy trashed your wedding on purpose.
“Ever since you started dating Vivian, she had me watching you two, jumping in anytime to stir up drama. Locked in storage, stalkers, the whole damsel act? Total theater. Hilarious, right?
“But with your brains, you never deserved Vivian anyway. Guess God finally noticed.”
“Shut up! Shut up!” Cindy screamed, completely losing it.
This time, no one stepped in to stop her.
Catherine stood frozen, her whole body shaking.
Flashes hit her–every time she’d scolded Vivian, that blood–soaked wedding dress, the way Vivian called her “Mrs. Vallance” like a stranger. That was her daughter. The one she carried for months. The one she finally got back–and still chose to throw away. All for an adopted girl who’d fooled them all.
Tears blurred her vision as guilt came crashing down.
Then she spun and slapped Cindy hard, the sound echoing through the room.
“This is all your fault!” Catherine’s voice cracked, raw and broken. “You lied about being sick, turned us against Vivian, ripped iny daughter away from me! You’re the monster–we never should’ve adopted you!”
Chapter?
Emory’s tall frame crumpled. He dropped onto the couch, head in his hands, sobbing. “Vivian, I was wrong. I’m so sorry.”
Andrew stood frozen, still clutching his phone–the one that hadn’t buzzed once.
She was really gone.
He’d tossed aside the girl who only ever looked at him–for a liar.
“No… I don’t believe it,” he muttered. “If I can just find her, she’ll forgive me.”
That sparked something. Emory’s and Catherine’s eyes lit up with the tiniest flicker of hope.
“Yes,” Emory said, desperate. “We’ll find her. We’ll apologize for real this time. She’ll forgive us.”
