The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 117

Lunch With the Vanders.

“You are doing a good job, Ali. Keep going,” Nathaniel said.

They were in a high-end vehicle provided by the security service Nathaniel had hired from Greyhold.

Alisa was holding her father’s arm, carefully trying to button his sleeves, just as Nathaniel had asked.

To others, it might seem trivial, but Serena knew Nathaniel’s actions had meaning. Buttoning shirts was one of the activities Alisa did with her therapists. It was meant to improve fine motor skills and bilateral coordination.

Nathaniel clearly had given a lot of thought on how to help Alisa.

After Alisa finished buttoning his sleeves, she smiled at him, her eyes gleaming.

Nathaniel pinched her cheek. “Daddy is proud of you.”

Then Alisa hugged him.

Finally, Nathaniel turned to Serena. He caught the lifeless expression on her face.

“What’s wrong?” He put his arm around Serena, and she didn’t move away.

She allowed… his hold.

Nathaniel urged her to lean into him, and she did.

Serena’s heart wasn’t made of stone. Even without liking Stefan, his words had still wounded her—her sense of worth, her need to be respected. She couldn’t help wanting to feel… appreciated, and in Nathaniel’s hold, she felt exactly that.

“I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me,” Nathaniel said gently, rubbing her arm like he truly knew something was up.

Serena stayed silent for the next few minutes, the warmth of Nathaniel’s presence giving her unquestionable comfort. When she saw they were nearing her neighborhood, she said, “Can you ask Gavin, or whoever works under you at Stonewatch, to approve a meeting with Stefan? Schedule it for tomorrow. That way, he’ll cancel the lakehouse trip.”

She looked at him, and his eyes glistened with joy. “Gladly.”

Nathaniel made the call for the rest of the drive, and when they pulled up at Serena’s home, he received confirmation. He turned to her and said, “He agreed, in a heartbeat.”

“Figures,” she muttered.

But she didn’t have time to explain anything to Nathaniel because Sebastian ran out the door and screamed, “Daddy! Daddy’s here!”

The boy leaped, and Nathaniel caught him, spinning him around.

Laughter burst from Sebastian. The joy in his eyes was evident as he spread his arms like a young superhero.

Alisa, on the other hand, laughed at them and then demanded, “Me! Me!”

“You want to spin?” Nathaniel asked, and Alisa nodded.

Nathaniel eagerly spun her, which only made the twins ask for more.

Although Serena was still angry about Stefan, she couldn’t help but smile at her children’s interaction with their father. Despite having just met them, Nathaniel had connected with the twins as if he had never lost those years.

Then came the humor.

After getting enough spins, Sebastian settled into Nathaniel’s arms. “Daddy, you’re late for snack time!”

Nathaniel laughed. “I’m sorry, kiddo, but there’s still an afternoon snack."

“You’re staying?” Sebastian asked, his eyes and mouth rounding in shock.

“Yep. I’m staying for a few days, and I plan to send you to playgroup on Monday,” Nathaniel revealed.

“Yay!” Sebastian exclaimed. “Daddy, I told my teacher and classmates I have a daddy.”

“My teacher asked why she hasn’t seen you,” Sebastian continued. “I told her you’re like a superhero—busy.”

“Oh?” Nathaniel was clearly amused. The corners of his eyes crinkled.

“Stefan was there?” Nathaniel asked.

“He bailed?” Sterling echoed.

“Yes, he bailed,” Silas answered for Serena. He had arrived just in time.

Serena had asked her brother to come for lunch, telling him it was important.

“I drove Serena and Alisa to the hospital and hoped to leave them with Stefan,” Silas explained. “But he left, saying he had a meeting.”

“Alisa became frantic, Dad. Nathaniel calmed her down,” Serena said, turning to Silas. “Right, Silas?”

Silas nodded, kissing Celine on the cheek before taking his seat. "I hate to admit it, but yes."

“Why are you here, Silas?” Celine asked.

Motioning toward Serena, Silas said, “Ask Serena.”

Everyone turned to Serena.

“Mom, Dad, Silas, I have something very important to share with you,” Serena said. “This might break everyone’s heart and may leave us losing our appetite, but it’s better to get this over with now than later.”

"I'm afraid the Montgomreys haven't been fully honest with us," Serena said. She took out her phone and sent the video she had recorded of Stefan and Melanie at the hospital.

Silas played the video first, and everyone else followed.

Sterling gritted his teeth.

Although Nathaniel did not have a copy of the video, he heard everything from Silas' phone. Serena saw how both his hands balled into fists.

As for Silas, the veins on his neck protruded. He stood up, his face flushing red. “STEFAN!”