Page 148 of Between Secrets and Obsession

I thank her, and the moment she’s gone, I stare at the images and read the small print at the top.

O’Leary-Evans, Victoria

GA=18w4d

I learned from researching that GA means gestational age, which is how pregnancy weeks from the woman’s last menstrual cycle are counted. This means the babies were conceived about sixteen weeks ago and that was right around the time Johnny was about to kill me.

“You wanna tell me how it’s the middle of September and this is saying you’re over eighteen weeks along? Pretty sure the first week of July was only ten weeks ago.” I squeeze the pictures tight in my hand, rage building in my blood at the audacity she has to lie to me over and over. “There’s no fucking way they’re mine.”

“We’ve been married for four months, so it’s very believable we got pregnant right away and that they’re yours,” she states.

“But we both know they’re not.” I’m fuming and can barely control myself. “You were already pregnant when your father was about to shoot me, weren’t you?”

I don’t need her confirmation to know she was. She would’ve been super early, but it’s possible she could’ve known at that point. What other motive did she have for saving me? She needed someone to marry her and claim the babies.

But why?

“What’s it matter? We’re married and you’ll be the father to them.”

“Youbitch,” I whisper-hiss. “This was never about getting your trust fund and out of the family business, was it? You needed a father for them. Who’s the real one?”

“Shut. Up,” she snaps. “This conversation is over.”

The fuck it is.

“What exactly were you gonna say when you went into labor two months early?” I push.

“Twins come early all the time.” She brushes it off like I’m a goddamn idiot. “I’m giving birth in a private suite and it’ll be kept quiet until it’s time to announce their births.”

“You’re seriously delusional.” I shake my head in disbelief. “The moment your father finds out you got pregnant by another man, he’ll understand why I divorced your ass.” And hopefully let me leave without putting a bullet in my head.

Victoria scoffs with a smug grin. “Well, good luck proving it.”

I fucking will and won’t need luck, princess.

Once the doctor tells her to take it easy for a few days and sends us on our way, we finally make it back to her place with all the bags. She demands I unload them and set everything out on the dining room table. I do as she says to keep the peace, but my mind’s still reeling from the information I learned.

Her family’s religious, and she wouldn’t want to be pregnant out of wedlock, but I can’t figure out why she didn’t marry the real father instead of someone she barely knew. That part doesn’t quite add up, but if I know anything about Victoria, she does what will benefit her the most.

A paternity test would easily prove it, but it won’t be easy to get one done if she fights it. However, her being farther along means this pregnancy will be over a lot sooner and she won’t be able to hide her secret for long. Now that I know the truth, I have a little more weight in this deal.

Hours pass and when I don’t see or hear from Victoria, I assume she passed out for the night.

Thank God.

I make myself dinner, then head to my room to watch meaningless TV and try to keep my mind off Maddie, which of course never works.

Just as I’m dozing off, my phone vibrates with a message.

Unknown number

It’s Tyler. I’m getting Maddie out of there and have the proof you need to get your freedom. I’ll call you as soon as I can. Gimme a few days. Until then, sit tight.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

MADDIE

Ty’s still here.