The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 114

Chapter 114: Grandfather

Grandfather.

An hour and a half had passed since the EEG started, and everything was going well. Alisa was fast asleep.

Inside the monitoring room, there was a separate resting area for parents accompanying the child. It was separated by a thick curtain, with a coffee table and charging stations in case guardians opted to work during the procedure. Sitting next to the child was only allowed for younger children like Alisa.

Serena tried to stay in the resting area, but there were times when he grew curious about the father and daughter. Often, she would take a peek.

Alisa had let go of Nathaniel’s finger, but his hand remained on the bed. Like Ali, he was in deep sleep.

Serena studied Nathaniel for a moment and admitted to herself that this image of him as a father suited him well. He was the kind of dad who seemed to say, ‘I don’t care how I look, I just need to be here for my kids,’ yet he still managed to look good.

Just as she was staring at him, Nathaniel’s eyes opened.

He caught her watching him.

For a second, she panicked. She swore her face burned. But she calmly whispered, “Just checking.”

Nathaniel gave a faint smile, but Serena didn’t wait for a response. She returned to her seat in the resting area.

Unfortunately for her, Nathaniel followed.

There was only one sofa, but it was enough for two adults. Nathaniel sat beside her.

“Go back there and sleep,” she whispered. “We still have half an hour.”

Nathaniel checked the time. “Ninety minutes is good enough.”

He pulled out his phone from his trouser pocket and turned it on. He had purposely switched it off earlier before resting with Alisa.

When his phone lit up, he entered his password without trying to hide it from Serena.

When she saw the passcode, she said through gritted teeth, “Nathan, that’s not my real birthday.”

She almost said it out loud in anger.

Nathaniel had entered the birthday Victor gave her.

“Fuck,” Nathaniel hissed.

The technician reminded them, “Please stay quiet.”

“Sorry,” Nathaniel said, peeking through the curtain and giving the technician a thumbs-up.

He turned back to Serena. “I forgot to change it, okay? Old habit.”

He went into the settings and updated the passcode to Serena’s corect birth date, as a Vander. Then he turned to her. “Okay, now?”

Serena nodded.

‘Wait.’ She froze. ‘Why did I just agree to him using my birthday as his password?’

She frowned and rested her chin on her fist. ‘Old habit.’

“I have something to tell you,” Nathaniel said, leaning closer.

“What is it?” Serena asked, finding herself locked in his gaze.

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Chapter 14 Grand other

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Sitting that close reminded her how captivating his eyes were. They were like… Bastin’s.

“You can’t marry Stefan Montgomery,” Nathaniel said bluntly. “Anyone but him.”

“Really?” Serena asked. “Anyone but him? What about Xavier?”

“Not Xavier either,” Nathaniel said. “He’s got that best-friend look. The kind of smile that says I’ll help you move, not I’ll fight the world for you.”

Serena: “…”

>>

“He looks like the guy you vent to about your husband,” he added.

Serena: “…”

In retrospect, he was… right.

“Fine, then. I’ll find another man to marry,” Serena said, turning way.

“Fine,” he replied. “Just make sure this man isn’t permanently stuck in the friend zone, doesn’t have any dirty little secrets, and treats the children well. I swear, I’ll be calling this man every hour to remind him how to care for my kids.”

“He should also be good-looking,” he added. “An excellent provider-I’m talking billions—and, lastly, have a very distinctive eye color.”

“That narrows the prospects significantly,” Serena said. “And whoever I choose will spend the rest of his life terrified of you.”

“He’s going to have to live with that,” Nathaniel confirmed. “So, if you are so concerned, it might as well be me.”

It almost made Serena laugh. It reminded her of their conversations in college. Nathaniel could be funny when he wanted to be.

“So,” Serena said, “going back to Stefan, why not him?”

Nathaniel sighed, looking at her earnestly. “Serena, Stefan has a relationship with his secretary. They have been together for years.”

It took a few seconds for Serena to respond. Finally, she asked, “How-how did you know this?”

“I needed an advantage over the Montgomerys,” Nathaniel said carefully. “I learned his family has been interested in collaborating with Stonewatch Rehabilitation Network. For years, they’ve sponsored medical missions in Greyhold Fort just to get close to Stonewatch’s leadership.”

“And?” Serena asked, now curious.

“To get information, I reached out to my grandfather,” Nathaniel said. “Retired General Norman Collins.”

Serena blinked.

Then she gulped. “You’re kidding me.”

“Unfortunately, I’m not,” Nathaniel said, averting his gaze. “And his kinship isn’t something I’m proud of.”

Serena’s brows knit together. “Tell me.”

Nathaniel drew a slow breath, steadying himself. He spoke carefully, pausing often.

“My grandmother struggled to carry her pregnancies. My father, Neal, was the only child she managed to have. But he was… autistic.”

“My grandfather’s family couldn’t accept it. They looked down on both my grandmother and my father because of his condition. From what my mother told me, they were pushed aside ttle by little-ignored, dismissed. Norman even had an affair with a widow.”

Nathaniel’s gaze dropped. “Norman never acknowledged my father. Not once. He never sent a penny either. He was ashamed. After my grandma asked for a divorce, he married his mistress and raised his stepson as if he were his own blood.”

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Chapter Ondhother

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Silence stretched for a few seconds before Nathaniel continued, “My grandmother and my father swore they would never acknowledge him either. They lived their lives without him, and they were happy.”

“So,” Serena said softly, feeling the ache rise in her chest. No parent should abandon their child. “That’s why you never reached out to him even after Neal was killed?”

“Actually, we did,” Nathaniel replied. “It was… another disappointment.”

LiLhyz Author

January 16, 2026.

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