The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 108

Confronting Xavier.

“Mommy, pretty.”

“Yes, she is pretty. She is always pretty.”

Serena blinked, hearing voices. Next, she felt a kiss on her cheek.

“Cheek.”

And another one.

“Cheek.”

“Nose.”

And another.

“Lips.”

Serena smiled.

She knew it was Alisa.

She reached for her daughter, her eyes slowly opening. “Good morning.”

But Alisa didn’t answer. Instead, she turned to her watch. “Done, Daddy. Done kissing Mommy!”

Serena: “…”

Nathaniel: “Thank you for kissing mommy for me, my princess.”

Serena felt her face burn. She sat up abruptly, emotions clashing.

Technically, it was an indirect kiss from Nathaniel.

But she couldn’t get mad. It was still Ali, after all.

Then another realization hit her. Ali had just spoken more than ten words. She could have said even more to her father.

So Serena let it go and focused on the bright side.

“Baby, good morning,” Serena greeted, and Alisa smiled.

Serena glanced at Alisa’s Apple Watch and saw it was still six in the morning. “You’re up early. Playgroup isn’t until ten.”

Alisa only pointed at her watch. She was still on a call with Nathaniel.

“She called me to say good morning,” Nathaniel said. His voice sounded hoarse.

Serena was surprised. She asked her daughter, “You called your father?”

Alisa nodded.

“She asked me about the playground,” Nathaniel continued. “I told her it’s happening.”

“How are you going to do that?” Serena asked. “Are you going to buy a playroom? Or build a playground in our villa—I mean, your villa.”

She frowned, unsure why she’d said that.

A low chuckle slipped from Nathaniel. Hoarse or not, his voice had no business sounding that good.

It was… a little annoying. Not that she would admit it.

“Let me worry about that,” Nathaniel said. “I have something to ask, though. Will you schedule Ali for an electroencephalogram?”

Although Nathaniel was only on speaker, Serena nodded. “Yes, I’ll make the call today. Thank you for reminding me.”

“Is there any update on the Holts?” she asked.

“Their trusted employees are being interrogated. A few are already slipping in their testimonies. The doctor who signed your birth certificate has been brought in for questioning. It won’t be long; someone will crack. Vanessa’s DNA results will be out in two days,” Nathaniel answered thoroughly.

“Call me if there’s any development,” Serena requested.

Serena couldn’t stop herself from raising her voice.

“How could you!” she cried. “Alice is our best friend. Not just mine, OUR BEST FRIEND! Her family deserved to know I was alive!”

“Serena, I did call them—” Xavier tried.

“Really?” she cut in.

“Yes, but... only once,” he admitted. "I… I didn’t tell them who I was or that you were with me."

Xavier stammered. “I wanted to protect you and your pregnancy. I didn’t want you exposed to anything that might hurt you. When you started getting better, I tried to reach them again, but I couldn’t—”

“Is that really your excuse?” Serena demanded. “How hard would it have been to tell them I was alive and recovering under your care, and I just couldn’t speak to them yet?”

“But—” Xavier’s jaw tightened. Then, he slipped, “They would have told Nathan! If he found out, he would have come after you. And he wasn’t good for you!”

“Serena, he’s still not good for you,” Xavier insisted.

“Oh,” Serena said, laughing bitterly through her tears. “So that’s it. That’s the real reason.”

She didn’t voice her suspicions. She didn’t need to. They were obvious now.

Xavier fell silent, regret settling heavily over him. Serena watched as it finally caught up with him.

After a moment, he spoke quietly. “I’m sorry. I honestly regret not leaving my name or contact information. I never expected them to disappear.”

“Xavier, I love you. You’ll always be my best friend,” Serena said. “But you did not try hard enough. You were more concerned about Nathaniel finding me than about Alice. That was wrong. Alice deserved better. She deserved to be by my side.”

"By your side?" Xavier’s lips trembled. “What… what do you mean?”

“Alice is alive,” Serena revealed.

“What?” Xavier gasped, his eyes widening. “How?”

“You never imagined the irony,” Serena said quietly. “The very person you tried to keep me away from is the one who saved Alice. I found her through him.”