Chapter 5

The pain was a dull, constant ache now. The love was gone, scoured away by the relentless tide of his betrayals. All that remained was a cold, hollow space.

I heard Kassidy moan his name again. My hand went to my purse, my fingers closing around my phone. I fumbled with the settings, my hands shaking, and turned on the voice recorder.

Quietly, I crept to the thin wall separating the suites and slid the phone into the small gap near the floor. I would have my proof.

When I finally emerged from the fitting room, resplendent in silver silk, Christian was waiting for me, his hair slightly disheveled.

"Sorry," he said, not meeting my eyes. "I had a sudden stomach issue. Had to use the restroom."

The lie was so pathetic, so transparent, it was almost funny.

I didn't say a word. I just turned and walked out of the boutique, leaving him to scramble after me.

He spent the next three days in a state of cloying, over-the-top affection, trying to "make up" for his supposed neglect. It was a performance, and I was the unwilling audience.

Jace's birthday gala was a spectacular affair. The ballroom of the city's grandest hotel was transformed into a child's fantasy, with towering balloon sculptures and a candy bar that stretched the length of the room. It was a testament to Christian's wealth and his dedication to his public image.

I had made my own preparations. I had invited several of Christian's key business partners and investors, men whose opinions mattered.

The night wore on, a blur of fake smiles and polite conversation. Finally, the moment came. The massive birthday cake was wheeled out, and Christian took the stage to give a speech. He was a master, charming and eloquent, painting a picture of a perfect, loving family.

Then, he turned to me. "And now, a few words from my beautiful wife, Carmen."

I walked to the stage, the microphone cool in my hand. I looked out at the sea of expectant faces, at Christian's proud smile, at Kassidy standing demurely in the corner.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate Jace's seventh birthday," I began, my voice clear and steady. "But there's something you all need to know. Jace is not my son."

A collective gasp rippled through the room. The silence that followed was deafening. Christian's smile froze, then twisted into a frown. His parents, sitting at the front table, looked utterly bewildered.

I saw Kassidy's hand fly to her mouth, her eyes wide with what I thought was panic. I mistook it for fear. I thought she was cornered. I was wrong.

"I have proof," I said, my voice ringing with triumph. I held up a copy of the DNA test. "This is a paternity test. It proves..."

I faltered. I had glanced down at the paper in my hand, and the words weren't what I expected. My eyes snapped up, scanning the crowd until they landed on Kassidy. She was looking at me, a tiny, triumphant smirk playing on her lips.

She had switched the reports.

"What does it say, dear?" my father-in-law called out, his voice laced with confusion.

I stared at the paper, at the damning, impossible words. Probability of Maternity: 99.99%. Probability of Paternity: 0%.

According to this falsified document, Jace was my son, but not Christian's. I had been the unfaithful one.

"Kassidy," I hissed, my voice trembling with rage. "You did this."

She shrank back, her eyes filling with tears. "Carmen, I... I don't know what you're talking about. I know you've been under a lot of stress lately..."

"She's lying!" I shouted, turning back to the crowd. "Christian is the father! They had an affair!"

Kassidy let out a sob, a perfect, heart-wrenching sound. "I swear, there is nothing between Mr. Norman and me. I would never betray your trust like that, Carmen."

The narrative had been flipped with terrifying expertise. The murmurs in the crowd turned against me.

"I can't believe she'd air their dirty laundry in public like this."

"And to think, Christian is so good to her. He's raising another man's child as his own."

Christian stepped forward, wrapping a protective arm around Kassidy. He looked at me with an expression of profound disappointment. "Carmen, that's enough. This is a misunderstanding. We can talk about this at home."

He gave a subtle nod to the guests. "I apologize for this disturbance. Please, enjoy the rest of the evening."

The guests, sensing the drama was over, began to drift away, murmuring promises to keep the "family secret."

I stood on the stage, isolated and humiliated, feeling the weight of a hundred judgmental eyes. The worst part was Christian's face. He knew. He knew the truth, and he was choosing to let me take the fall, to protect his mistress, to protect his lie.

My in-laws rushed to the stage. "Christian, what is going on?" his mother demanded.

"It's nothing, Mom," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "Carmen's just been a little... emotional lately. It's my fault. I've been working too much."

"How dare you?" I spat, my voice shaking. "Tell them the truth! Tell them you're a coward and a liar!"

He looked at me, his eyes cold as ice. "I think you're the one who owes everyone an explanation, Carmen."

His mother turned on me. "Carmen, how could you do this to Christian? After everything he's done for you?"

The united front was impenetrable. I was the crazy one. The unfaithful one. The villain in their twisted story.