The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 79

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Chapter 79: Vanessa’s Performance

Vanessa’s Performance.

[Nathan, Dad, and I agreed that we’ll tell the kids together. Tomorrow morning, you may visit Sebastian as his blood donor. The actual conversation will happen after he’s discharged, when we can all sit down with the children properly. We’ll meet at the Astoria Hotel. My entire family will be there.]

Serena texted Nathaniel after lunch, and he replied almost immediately.

Nathaniel: [Are you still at the hospital? Aren’t you going to take a break? Can we have dinner together?]

Serena: [I don’t think that’s a good idea, but I will see Ali in a bit. She is asking for me.]

Nathaniel: [Can I see you at the hotel?]

Serena: [No. I’m tired. I’d rather not see you today, but thank you for giving Bastin your blood. You can visit Bastin tomorrow.]

Nathaniel: [Can I at least give the children a treat?]

Nathaniel: [Please.]

Serena sighed and replied: [Fine. I’ll be at the hotel lobby around two.]

Nathaniel: [Who will be with Sebastian?]

Serena: [Silas and Dad will be with him. I will return to the hospital tonight.]

Nathaniel: [I’ll see you at two, then.]

Sebastian was already awake. He had just had his blood transfusion.

“Mommy,” he said softly, “my arm hurts.”

“The nurse will be here soon with your pain medication,” Serena said as she walked over to the bed and smiled at her son. Her gaze landed on his arm, which was bandaged from the deep glass cut. “But you know, Bastin, this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t run around at the restaurant.”

Sebastian glanced down at his arm, looking guilty. “But it’s fun to play.’

“Not around places with lots of glass and sharp edges,” Serena reminded him.

Sebastian’s blue-gray eyes flickered with bitterness and regret.

“Maybe,” he said, “I don’t want to eat there anymore.”

Then he turned to Silas, who was busy with his laptop at the nearby dining table, and pointed at him. “It was Uncle Silas’s fault!”

Serena and Sterling both turned to Silas, dumbfounded.

Silas frowned. “Me? You were the one who threw the dino!”

“You wanted to take Dino away,” Sebastian said, folding his arms and snubbing Silas.

Serena inhaled. “Bastin-”

Silas lifted a hand. “No. Let him speak. I want to hear what he has to say.”

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Chapter 79 vanessa’s Performance

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“Dino wanted to fly,” Sebastian said reasonably.

Silas folded his arms. “Dino does not fly.”

Sebastian frowned. “He jumps.”

Silas opened his mouth. Closed it. Tried again. “You can’t jump through glass.”

Sebastian pointed at his arm. “Dino did.”

“And look what happened to your arm,” Silas said, staring at the bandage. “Dino is banned for one month.”

Sebastian gasped. He glared at Silas. “Uncle was slow to catch me. It’s still his fault. He should have protected me.”

“He does have a point, Silas,” Sterling said calmly. “You were the lead guardian at that time.”

“Bastin,” Serena said gently, crouching beside the bed so they were eye to eye. “Uncle Silas didn’t throw Dino. You did. And who was running, and maybe not looking?”

((

“…Me,” Sebastian admitted.

“And so?” Serena asked. “What did you learn from this?”

Sebastian sighed, defeated but thoughtful. He looked at everyone and said, “The hotel’s glass wall has poor quality.”

Serena’s mouth fell open.

Silas made a face while Sterling laughed.

“He got that sarcasm from his uncle, alright,” Sterling said. “We can definitely blame Silas.”

“Serena, you’d better go,” Sterling added. “Milo is waiting at the driveway. Your mom wants to visit Bastin while you’re with Ali.”

“Okay,” Serena said goodbye to everyone, kissing Sebastian on the forehead.

***

Astoria Velmon Hotel.

When Serena arrived at the hotel lobby, she didn’t find Nathaniel. She checked her phone and saw a message he had sent ten minutes earlier.

Nathaniel: [There was an accident on the road. I got held up. Please wait for me.]

Serena: [I’ll wait for you at the lobby.]

She had just found a seat and closed her eyes when she sensed someone stop in front of her.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

The voice was light. Pleasant. Too pleased with itself.

Serena opened her eyes and saw Vanessa Holt.

She hadn’t changed much. Vanessa was still the same blonde actress accustomed to attention. Her smooth, long blonde hair framed her face, and her gray eyes seemed to miss nothing. Vanessa radiated confidence and

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Chapter 79 Vanessa’s Performance

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dominance, the kind that didn’t need to be loud to be felt.

Serena leaned her head back, letting Vanessa’s words pass like background noise. Then she closed her eyes. She had learned long ago that acknowledgment was often an invitation.

Vanessa didn’t take the hint.

“You vanished so completely,” Vanessa continued. “I assumed you were gone for good.”

Serena exhaled slowly, counting her breaths. The air smelled faintly of Vanessa’s expensive perfume.

“What are you doing back?” Vanessa asked, settling onto the nearby sofa as if she belonged there.

Serena kept her eyes closed. “Last I checked, you don’t own the city.”

Vanessa laughed. “No. But I do own Velmon, in a way. The city bows to me because I’m Nathan’s wife.”

That made Serena open her eyes.

Not because it hurt, but because it demanded confirmation.

“You married Nathan?” Serena asked calmly. “Why don’t I believe that?”

“Yes,” Vanessa replied smoothly, clearly pleased she’d finally earned her attention. “We’re married. And we have a daughter.”

Vanessa watched her closely. When Serena gave her nothing, she pressed on

“Nathan adores her,” Vanessa added with a bright smile. “He adores us.”

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