The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 100

Vanessa’s Blood.

While Vanessa was hurling accusations against Serena, she had stepped behind Nathaniel.

The reporters and even the crowd seemed influenced by Vanessa’s words as they closed in on Serena and Nathaniel.

Only Nathaniel’s outstretched arm kept a safe distance between them and the press.

Behind the flock of people, Vanessa kept yapping, repeating the same pieces of “evidence” Nathaniel thought he had already shielded Serena from.

One thing was certain: Vanessa struck more than one raw nerve.

Serena was barely holding on to her patience. She could tell Nathaniel was the same.

His hands balled into fists, but his priority was still standing in front of her and shielding her.

Then, her parents arrived.

To Serena’s surprise, Vanessa didn’t see the connection. She even dared to say, “That woman is claiming she’s your daughter. The nerve—the audacity—the stupidity of using your family’s name!”

Serena internally rolled her eyes at Vanessa’s lack of awareness, but entitlement had made her blind to it.

In the end, Vanessa received a slap from Serena’s fiercely protective twin brother.

“Serena is a Vander."

“She is my twin sister. How dare you defame her?”

It wasn't like her to be happy for other people's misery, but it was different with Vanessa. She felt a sense of satisfaction, seeing the red mark bloom on Vanessa’s cheek, her widened eyes, her pale face, and the way her steps faltered.

“What?” Vanessa asked, touching her cheek, and turning, finding Serena. “That’s—that’s impossible! She can’t be a Vander!”

“Look carefully, fool,” Silas snapped, pointing to himself. “Serena and I share the same features.”

Then he gestured toward Celine. “She looks even more like our mother.”

Whispers rippled through the hallway. The crowd began siding with Silas.

At the same time, Sterling walked toward Serena. He calmly placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her beside Celine and the children.

The reporters stepped aside, as if too stunned by Sterling’s commanding presence.

Yes, the children were there, but they stood behind their nanny, Leslie, unnoticed amid the chaos. More guests were still arriving.

Dennis Mercer and Peter Wells, Nathaniel’s other friends, had turned up as well. Their eyes flickered with astonishment. They had clearly heard everything Silas said.

Serena then shifted her attention back to Vanessa. Now that she was surrounded by her family, Nathaniel took heavy steps toward Vanessa.

***

Vanessa still couldn’t believe what was happening.

“Gavin,” Nathaniel called.

Vanessa hadn’t even noticed Gavin leave. Now he returned with Bianca’s driver, holding a brown envelope. Gavin passed a document to Nathaniel.

“You claim you barely knew Victor,” Nathaniel said in an icy tone. “Then explain why his wife left you her inherited mansion.”

The crowd gasped.

Gavin handed Nathaniel a stack of photographs. Nathaniel flung them at Vanessa’s feet.

“Why is it,” Nathaniel said sharply, “that every year, a week before your birthday, the Holts dined with Victor and Roselind Kline at the Velmon City Club?”

A hush fell.

Murmurs followed.

“The Holts were close to the Klines?”

“Oh my God… It’s Vanessa.”

Some photos were scattered toward the crowd. Vanessa grabbed one and saw it was a surveillance image from the Velmon City Club.

'How did they get this? The club promised absolute privacy,' she thought.