Behind him, Raince and Cecilia lit up like it was Christmas–they knew the baby was gone.
Cecilia darted forward and grabbed his arm. “Let’s go, Quentin. She lost that bastard kid. Now nothing’s stopping you from being
She didn’t finish.
1/2
Chapter 6
+15 Bonus
Quentin spun and slapped her–hard.
His eyes were on fire, voice shaking. “Who said that baby was a bastard? Who?!”
He grabbed Cecilia by the collar, whole body coiled like a spring. “That was my child! Mine!”
He shoved her, and she slammed into the corner wall with a thud.
Cecilia froze, eyes darting to Rainee, who stood stiff, silent. And just like that, it clicked. She’d been played.
Losing the real Palmer child over a damn lie? That broke her.
She lunged at Rainee, screaming, yanking at her clothes. “You’re the one who said Vivienne cheated! That she was carrying some
rando’s kid! Why isn’t that true? Talk!”
Rainee, pregnant and struggling, shoved her away. “You’re the fool who believed me. Who else can you blame? Besides, Quentin
married me. He’s claiming my baby as his. Vivienne’s baby was the real bas-”
Smack.
Quentin slapped her. She hit the floor.
He got it now–how she played him and Cecilia like puppets.
And so did I.
Everything lined up. Rainee was slicker than I ever gave her credit for. Of course Cecilia “just happened” to show up at the
hospital. Of course Quentin iced out his own kid. It was all her plan.
His jaw clenched, eyes blazing. “Rainee Layton, your baby’s the real bastard. It’s not mine. Why the hell would I register a kid
that’s not even mine? And this marriage? Done. I’m filing for divorce.”
I looked at him–once smug, now wrecked–and gave him a cold, crooked smile. I slid back into bed, drained.
He took a step, stopped when I hit him with a glare colder than ice.
Rainee broke down, clutching his leg. “No, Quentin! Don’t leave me–I need you!”
Quentin laughed, dark and twisted, eyes full of hate.
I just laid there, numb. Cecilia hovered, wrecked with guilt.
Quentin finally got it.
His downfall had started.
