My entire body stiffened.
“He doesn’t understand anything yet, and by the time he’s older, I’ll have convinced her that boarding school is the sensible option.”
The hallway seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
I remembered Adrian carrying Leo through our kitchen, whispering bedtime songs, and proudly introducing him as his son.
Now, every tender memory felt contaminated by the voice coming through that door.
“Playing Daddy to another man’s kid for a few years is a small price for getting control of everything Elena owns.”
I stepped backward before my legs could fail me.
For several seconds, I couldn’t hear anything except my own heartbeat.
Teresa reached for my elbow, but I shook my head.
I refused to collapse while my son was watching, even if he was too young to understand.
I took out my phone and called Claire, our wedding coordinator.
“Cancel the ceremony, but don’t announce anything yet.”
Claire sounded bewildered.
“Elena, the guests are already seated.”
“I know exactly where they are.”
“Should I tell Adrian?”
“Absolutely not.”
After ending the call, I took Leo into my arms and pressed my lips against his warm forehead.
His sleepy fingers touched my necklace, and I suddenly understood how close I had come to giving Adrian permanent influence over our lives.
Teresa watched me silently until I turned toward her.
“Why did you come looking for me?”
She hesitated, and something in her expression frightened me more than Adrian’s conversation.
“Because I found something in Leo’s nursery three nights ago.”
My stomach tightened.
“What did you find?”
She glanced toward the dressing-room door, then reached into the large handbag hanging from her shoulder.
“I was putting away his blankets when I noticed the bottom drawer wasn’t closing properly.”
She removed a folded sheet of paper and held it against her chest.
“There was an envelope taped underneath, and I recognized Mr. Hayes’s handwriting.”
I looked at the paper, suddenly afraid to touch it.
Teresa’s voice trembled.
“I photographed everything before putting it back, because I didn’t know whether you’d believe me.”
“Believe what?”
She slowly unfolded the page.
Across the top, in Adrian’s unmistakable handwriting, were three words that made my blood turn cold.
LEO — RELOCATION PLAN.
And beneath those words was a date.
Tomorrow morning.
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