Chapter 2 - THE FATHERLESS CHILD WHO HAD A FATHER
Ethan stopped six feet from us.
Nobody moved.
Behind him, Vanessa’s wedding guests crowded the railings.
My sister’s string quartet had stopped playing.
The entire reception was listening.
Ethan looked at Mia again.
“How old is she?”
Arthur stepped between us.
“Vale, this is my daughter’s wedding.”
Ethan didn't look at him.
“Rachel.”
I had spent five years imagining this conversation in every possible version except the one actually happening.
Angry.
Crying.
Cold.
I had never imagined standing on a yacht with saltwater soaking the hem of my dress while my father silently begged me not to answer.
“Four.”
Ethan’s face changed.
“What month?”
“September.”
He closed his eyes.
Arthur grabbed my elbow.
“We are not doing this here.”
Ethan looked at his hand.
“Take it off her.”
Arthur did.
Slowly.
Mia whispered into my neck, “Mommy, who’s that?”
Before I could answer, Ethan said:
“My name is Ethan.”
His voice softened completely.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Can we please stop turning my wedding into Rachel’s drama?”
I looked at my sister.
Five minutes earlier, she had watched our father shove me toward an open ramp.
Now she was irritated that the consequences had interrupted her reception.
Ethan finally looked at her.
“Congratulations.”
The word had no warmth in it.
Then he looked back at me.
“Did you receive my letters?”
I stared.
“What letters?”
Arthur said sharply, “Enough.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Did you?”
“No.”
“What about the transfers?”
“What transfers?”
Arthur moved again.
Ethan’s security man stepped forward.
No threats.
No touching.
Just presence.
Arthur stopped.
Ethan reached inside his jacket and removed his phone.
He opened an old banking record.
Four transfers.
Five thousand dollars each.
All sent during my pregnancy.
All rejected.
Recipient account:
Rachel Bennett.
I stared at the screen.
“That isn't my account.”
“I know that now.”
The world around me seemed to narrow.
“I was told you returned every payment.”
“By who?”
His eyes moved toward Arthur.
I already knew.
Ethan continued.
“I was told you wanted no contact.”
“I was told you signed a letter saying the baby wasn't your responsibility.”
“I never signed that.”
I looked at my father.
He said nothing.
Mia touched the crest pendant.
Ethan noticed.
“Where did she get that?”
“My mother’s jewelry box.”
His face changed again.
“That belonged to my grandmother.”
Arthur finally snapped.
“Get off my boat.”
Ethan laughed softly.
“No.”
Arthur's jaw tightened.
“This vessel is under Bennett charter.”
“From Vale Maritime.”
Silence.
Ethan looked toward the deck.
“My company owns the yacht you're standing on.”
Vanessa's new husband stared at Arthur.
Arthur's expensive face turned gray.
Ethan returned his attention to me.
“My grandmother gave that pendant to your mother the week we got engaged.”
I felt the floor shift.
We had never publicly announced an engagement.
Only four people knew.
Me.
Ethan.
My mother.
Arthur.
My mother was dead.
Which left the man standing beside me.
May you like
I looked at him.
“What did you do?”
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