My husband threw divorce papers into my face while I cradled our newborn daughter. “I need a son, not a useless girl,” he sneered. His mother nodded. “We need a grandson. Someone else has already done what you couldn’t.” Months later, at his wedding to the mistress supposedly carrying his baby boy, I walked in holding my daughter and one sealed envelope. When I revealed what was inside, the groom went pale—and revenge had only just begun. - True Stories / Chapter 11 / 40

Chapter 11 - The Desperate Ex

The trap was set, but the universe decided to hand me the final, devastating piece of the puzzle on a silver platter.

I was at my desk reviewing the final draft of the corporate suspension documents when my private cell phone rang. It was an unknown number.

“Eleanor Vale?” a hesitant, deep voice asked.

“Speaking. Who is this?”

“My name is Marcus Reed,” the man said. He sounded exhausted, running on fumes and anxiety. “You don't know me, but I need to talk to you about your husband. And about Celeste.”

My posture straightened immediately. “I know who you are, Mr. Reed. You’re Celeste’s former boyfriend.”

Marcus let out a bitter, hollow laugh. “Former. Right. I dated her for three years, Eleanor. Up until three weeks before she publicly announced her pregnancy with Grant. She broke up with me over a text message, packed her bags, and moved into a luxury hotel.”

“What does this have to do with me, Marcus?” I asked, playing my cards close to my chest.

“She told me the baby was mine,” Marcus blurted out, the pain evident in his voice. “The night she packed her bags, we had a massive fight. She screamed that she was pregnant with my kid, but that I was too broke to give her the life she deserved. Then, suddenly, Grant is parading her around as the mother of his heir.”