Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Before I Did
I knew meeting Lauren alone was a bad idea.
My father told me.
His lawyer told me.
Even Dominic told me.
But none of them understood one thing.
I had spent three years surrounded by people who knew pieces of the truth while I lived inside a lie.
I was tired of waiting for someone to decide what I was allowed to know.
So I went.
The coffee shop was small and quiet.
Almost empty.
Rain tapped against the windows.
A perfect place for secrets.
Lauren arrived five minutes late.
She looked nothing like the villain I had imagined.
She looked tired.
Not dangerous.
Just tired.
She sat across from me.
"Vivienne.""
I didn't touch my coffee.
"Why are you helping me?""
She looked down.
"Because I know what it's like to be used.""
I studied her face.
"You were supposed to marry Dominic.""
She nodded.
"I was.""
"And?""
"And then he met you.""
I waited.
She smiled sadly.
"You know what everyone got wrong about Dominic?""
I said nothing.
"He wasn't forced to marry you.""
That surprised me.
"Then why?""
Lauren looked out the window.
"Because he needed someone his family couldn't control.""
My chest tightened.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"It will.""
She pulled a small envelope from her bag.
"I found this after my engagement ended.""
She pushed it across the table.
I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
From Eleanor.
My hands tightened as I read.
"Dominic must marry someone outside the Bennett circle. Someone without connections. Someone we can influence.""
I stopped.
The words blurred.
Lauren watched me.
"I wasn't the first choice.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"They didn't want Dominic happy.""
She laughed quietly.
"They wanted him obedient.""
I read the letter again.
Someone outside the Bennett circle.
Someone easy to control.
Someone without connections.
I felt sick.
"So he chose me because I looked powerless.""
Lauren didn't answer.
She didn't have to.
That was worse.
"Did he know?""
She hesitated.
"Not at first.""
"And later?""
Her silence was enough.
I closed my eyes.
A thousand moments returned.
Dominic telling me his family was difficult.
Dominic asking me not to argue.
Dominic saying they didn't mean harm.
He knew.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
"What was the plan?""
Lauren leaned forward.
"Eleanor wanted access to your father's company.""
My heart stopped.
"Through me?""
"Through your marriage.""
The fake contract.
The money transfers.
The wedding accusation.
Everything suddenly connected.
"They wanted me to sign something.""
Lauren nodded.
"The day after the wedding.""
I stared.
"The wedding wasn't about the ring.""
"No.""
She looked at me.
"The ring was to destroy your credibility.""
My blood went cold.
"If they convinced everyone I was dishonest...""
"They could claim you were unstable.""
I finished the sentence.
"And use that against me.""
Lauren nodded.
The rain outside grew heavier.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked:
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?""
Her eyes filled with regret.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of them?""
"Of what I knew.""
She looked at me.
"Eleanor has spent decades building power. People disappear from her life when they become inconvenient.""
My stomach tightened.
"People?""
Lauren looked away.
Then quietly said:
"Your mother.""
The world went silent.
I stood.
"What did you say?""
Lauren immediately looked afraid.
"I shouldn't have said that.""
"No.""
My voice shook.
"You don't get to bring up my mother and then stop.""
She swallowed.
"I don't know what happened.""
"But?""
"But Eleanor knows.""
That sentence followed me home.
When I returned to my father's house, Dominic was waiting.
The second he saw my face, he knew.
"You met Lauren.""
I froze.
"How did you know?""
"Because she always tells the truth when she's angry.""
I stared.
"You knew she was helping me.""
He looked away.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
His voice broke.
"Because every truth I gave you hurt you.""
I stepped closer.
"Try me.""
He looked at me.
Really looked at me.
And for the first time, I saw the man I married.
Not the man who protected his family.
Not the man who stayed silent.
Just Dominic.
"I'm sorry.""
I waited.
He continued.
"I thought I could protect you by keeping you away from everything.""
"You protected me?""
My laugh was bitter.
"You watched me get destroyed.""
"I know.""
The honesty stopped me.
He didn't defend himself.
He didn't make excuses.
"I was a coward.""
The word hung between us.
Then my phone rang.
My father's assistant.
I answered.
"Vivienne.""
His voice was urgent.
"We found the final document.""
My heart tightened.
"What document?""
A pause.
Then:
"The one Eleanor has been trying to get you to sign.""
I looked at Dominic.
"Where is it?""
Another pause.
"Your mother's old office.""
My blood ran cold.
"Why is it there?""
My father's assistant lowered his voice.
"Because the document was created thirty years ago.""
I gripped the phone.
"And whose name is on it?""
Silence.
May you like
Then:
"Yours.""
