Chapter 8 - THE FALLOUT
The reaction was instantaneous.
Vanessa began to sob,
a high,
shrill sound that made the baby cry.
Marcus tried to grab my arm,
his face contorting with a desperate,
ugly rage.
“Adeline,
don’t do this!”
“We can talk about this!”
I stepped back,
my face a mask of cold indifference.
“There’s nothing left to say,
Marcus.”
“Security is waiting in the hallway to escort you both out.”
“But this is my home!”
he roared,
looking around at the luxury he was about to lose.
“No,”
I said.
“This is a Thorne property.”
“And your name is no longer on the lease.”
I looked at my business associates.
“I apologize for the disruption,”
I said.
“But as you can see,
a restructuring was necessary.”
They nodded,
their eyes filled with a new kind of respect—and fear.
They knew now that Adeline Thorne was not to be trifled with.
The security guards entered the room,
two large men in suits.
They moved toward Marcus,
who was still clutching the blue folder.
“Leave the baby,
Vanessa,”
I said.
She froze,
looking at me with wild eyes.
“What?”
“He’s a Thorne,
according to the birth certificate,”
I said,
a cruel irony in my voice.
“And I’ve already filed for temporary custody based on your lack of income and housing.”
“I’m evicting you from your apartment tomorrow morning.”
Vanessa shrieked,
clutching the child to her chest.
“You monster!”
“I’m the one who paid for his birth,
Vanessa,”
I reminded her.
“I’m the one who paid for the roof over his head.”
“You’re just the woman who tried to steal my life.”
Of course,
I didn't actually want the baby—I wanted them to feel the terror of losing him.
I wanted them to understand the weight of the name they had tried to usurp.
“Get them out,”
I commanded the guards.
As they were led away,
Marcus turned to look at me one last time.
The mask was gone.
The charm was dead.
There was only a small,
broken man who had bet everything on a lie and lost.
The doors closed behind them,
leaving the room in a heavy,
ringing silence.
I picked up my glass of champagne and took a long,
cool sip.
May you like
The silver gift bag was empty.
But I had never felt more full.
