The Billionaire's Secret Wife (The Pryce Family Book 3) (Volume 3) (19 page)

“Sometimes couples break up.”

“But with the love of their lives?”

“Maybe it wasn’t really the love of their lives.”

“No, no. Shane and Ginger were together since
high school
.”

“Well…feelings change.”

Like her parents. All those passionate love letters, but the love had turned into poison and they were now divorcing. Logically, she knew it was better than staying together and being miserable. You didn’t have to be alone to feel lonely. But emotionally…

Her mother’s words came back to her.
Love wasn’t enough
. And children certainly weren’t enough to keep a couple together. They were often pawns used to squeeze more concessions out of the other party.

Vanessa’s marriage didn’t even have love as the foundation. They were together for the baby, but would that be enough for them in later years? Or would Justin resent the fact that her pregnancy had trapped him into doing the right thing?

“I’m sure there’s more to the story than just her version,” Justin was saying. “We won’t know the whole truth until Shane gets back.”

The ring on her finger flashed, and she looked at the brilliant diamond, the sapphires…this supposed symbol of his commitment to her. But was it? Unlike most men, Justin could buy millions of those rings without a second thought. It was about as significant as a lollipop she’d received from a boy in kindergarten.

Suddenly cold, Vanessa hugged herself.

Chapter Eighteen

Vanessa went to a mid-morning class at the yoga studio. She was restless, and hoped some exercise would help her regain some balance. The previous night had been awful, full of crazy, vivid nightmares about her being trapped. She’d been as small as a cricket, and a clear glass jar had been put over her. She punched and kicked it, but it didn’t even crack. Then as panic grew in her chest, she saw a gigantic Justin outside. He had a forefinger on the jar, and he was staring at her with a smug smile. “Gotcha.”

“Where’s my family?” she’d yelled, but it had been no use.

Dane, Shane, Iain and Mark wagged their fingers at her, and then Ginger was there. She put her hand on the back of Justin’s head and kissed him deeply, and he kissed her back.

Vanessa shook her head to clear her mind. It was just a bad dream, a mix of her anxiety and Ginger.

A petite brunette walked up. “Hey,” she said.

There was an instant of non-recognition, then the name clicked. “Hi, Peggy.”

“You here alone?”

“Yeah. Just me today.”

“Oh.” Peggy cleared her throat, her cheeks pinkening. “Do you mind if we talk privately for a moment before class?”

Vanessa checked the time. They had at least fifteen minutes before it started. “Sure.”

The two women went to a green juice and smoothie bar adjacent to the studio. It served freshly made spinach and kale concoctions that Vanessa loved for the quick and easy micronutrient effect. It seemed more natural than taking a bunch of pills. “So.”

“Um.” Peggy’s left foot started tapping rapidly. Vanessa glanced down at it, but Peggy seemed oblivious. “I… I didn’t really come here for a job. I actually came to L.A. to see you. I called your law firm to see you, but they said you weren’t available to take on any new clients and hung up on me.”

Vanessa sighed and shot her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry they treated you that way. I’ve been sort of”—she struggled for the right word—“busy with things.”

“I know. I heard you’re an amazing lawyer.”

With a career that was going nowhere fast. “If you want, I can give you some referrals.”

“Oh, no, please.” Peggy waved away. “I wanted to talk to
you
.”

“Okay, sure.”

“It’s just…I don’t know how to begin, but we’re sisters.”

“We’re… I’m sorry, what?”

“We’re sisters. Half-sisters, really.”

Vanessa’s mind blanked for a moment, then heat flooded her face. Was Peggy another of Salazar’s love children? She didn’t look anything like him, but it was entirely possible, given the number of mistresses her father had had. “Um. Okay… You’re sure about this?”

“One hundred percent. But I’m happy to take a test or whatever if you want.” Peggy shifted. “Look, I’m not here to ask anything for myself, but…the fact is, my mom has cancer, and neither one of us can afford the chemo. I was wondering if there’s any way you can help with the cost. I know it’s a lot to ask, but…” Peggy blinked fast, dropping her gaze. “I don’t know what else to do. I tried not to involve you, but it’s been impossible. It’s just…totally shameless of me to ask, but could you please do this for me? Save my mom? She’s all I have.”

Sighing, Vanessa pressed her temples. It would’ve been more logical for Peggy to approach Salazar, but he wasn’t an easy man to get to with his wall of lawyers and assistants. “I’ll see what I can do.” He’d given his other illegitimate child, Blaine, fifty million bucks. Vanessa didn’t see why he wouldn’t be as generous with his daughter.

Still, this would hurt Ceinlys. Vanessa remembered how furious her mother had been when Salazar had claimed Blaine as his own. Couldn’t her father have been more careful? Or maybe her mother would be happy this time, since it would strengthen her position in the divorce proceedings.

Peggy visibly sagged. “Thank you.”

“How can I get in touch with you?”

“Here.” Peggy jotted down ten digits on a napkin and handed it to Vanessa. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t done anything.” Vanessa sucked down the rest of her smoothie and went outside. She had zero desire to exercise now.

She hopped into her car and drove to the family mansion. Her father lived there alone now, along with staff who kept the place clean and habitable. She’d always thought the place was somewhat ostentatious, but it’d been in the family for generations, and her family wasn’t going to give it up just because she didn’t care for it.

Al, impeccably dressed as always, welcomed her. The butler had been a standard fixture at her house ever since she could remember. “Miss.”

“Is dad home?”

He nodded. “In his study.”

She went to the second level. The study was large, with big windows, and held hundreds of books that nobody had read. Her grandmother, Shirley Pryce, had hated it when people touched them. One pale green wall had portraits of the Pryce grandparents.

Salazar was in a plushy armchair. The smile from the previous evening was gone, along with the sparkle in his eyes. His shoulders were slumped, his face slack like the skin was about to slide off it. The usual crispness of his clothes was gone, leaving him looking…sloppy. He was Dorian Gray after the mirror had broken, showing every year of his age.

Vanessa swallowed a gasp. How could he have changed so quickly? If she hadn’t known how arrogant and proud he could be, she might have suggested he go see a doctor.

“Congratulations on your marriage,” he said without getting up. A small smile ghosted on his lips. “Realized I wasn’t cheery enough yesterday. Justin Sterling is quite a catch.”

“He is, but the ‘catch’ factor isn’t why I married him.”

“Right, right. I heard you’re pregnant. He had to do the right thing. Barron would’ve disowned him otherwise.”

Ignoring the jab, Vanessa sat on a couch perpendicular to his chair. “Dad, is there something you want to announce to the family?”

He frowned. “Like what?”

She sighed. “Have you been getting calls from a woman named Peggy?”

“Not that I know of, but Kim handles those things.”

Breathing deeply, Vanessa gave herself time to prep what she was about to say. “I saw your daughter today.”

He squinted, some of his usual sharpness coming back. “What?”

“Yep. Came up to me in yoga class, introduced herself as my half-sister. She said her mother’s sick with cancer. She wanted to know if I could help out.”

“She’s lying. If she approaches you again, call the police.”

Vanessa gasped. “How can you say that? Her mother’s your former lover.”

“
If
I ever slept with her, which I doubt. Where is she from and what’s her mother’s name?”

“Her name’s Peggy Teeter, and I don’t know her mother’s name. But she’s from Provo, Utah.” This was probably futile. According to gossip, Salazar had lovers in every city in the country.

“I don’t recall ever sleeping with anyone named Teeter, and I never took a lover in Provo. Just because I have a reputation doesn’t mean I’m not discriminating.” He gave an offhand flick of his fingers. “Uptight religious girls aren’t really my thing.”

“So it’s just that simple to you?” Outrage suddenly seared through her. “I’ve never seen you act this cold toward women before. Are you worried about being responsible for the cancer treatment or is it something else?” She shook her head before he could answer. “No, wait. You want to deny everything, so you’ll look better in the court of public opinion and Mom won’t have as strong a case. Is that it?”

Suddenly Salazar blinked. “Wait, did you say Provo? And this woman claims she’s your sister?”

“Yes.”

“Not my daughter? Just your sister?”

Now that she thought about it, Peggy actually hadn’t said anything about Salazar. “Yes, but—”

He laughed. The sound was nasty but some animation came back to his face. “Oh, this is good.”

The sudden change in demeanor was startling. “What?” she said warily. “What’s good?”

Salazar shook his head mirthfully, wiping his eyes. “Well, honey, the fact is, you’re not related to this Peggy through me. You’re related through your mother.”

“Through…mom?”

“Oh yes. Peggy’s father was one of your mother’s boy toys.”

Vanessa’s jaw loosened, and her thoughts scattered. “Mom had a baby with another man?” But how could Ceinlys have hidden it? Peggy looked to be about Vanessa’s age.

A look of half regret and half pain passed through Salazar’s face. “Your mother had an affair, found herself pregnant and seduced me so she could pass the child off as mine. Except I knew it wasn’t.”

“How,” she whispered. “How could you be so sure?”

Salazar looked at her levelly. “Because I had a vasectomy right after Shane was born.”

Right after
… Vanessa felt like somebody had punched her in the stomach, forgetting all about Peggy. An icy fist gripped her heart. “You’re lying.”

“’Fraid not.”

“But…why didn’t you let everyone know I’m not yours? It would’ve been so easy.”

“Ah, I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. What’s one extra mouth to feed?”

Her eyes burned. “Dad…” she whispered, but her voice was so low, she didn’t know if he heard her. She couldn’t breathe.
One extra mouth to feed
. Was that all she was to him?

“Don’t look at me like that. I’ve always been fair to you. If you want to know about your biological father, you’ll have to talk to Ceinlys. And I’d prefer that you didn’t advertise the fact that you aren’t mine. That would be embarrassing to your mother.”

“And to you.”

He shook his head. “Men have more leeway. Call it unfair all you want, but that’s the way society works. Ceinlys would be judged.”

“Why would you care?”

“Until the divorce is finalized, she’s still my wife. And my wife is my concern.”

She started shaking. How could her father sit there and talk in such a calm tone? “If Mom is really your concern, why did you hurt her by having affairs? Why did you stop loving her? You said you loved her when you proposed. You sent her hundreds of love letters and dried rose petals.”

All the warmth and humor left Salazar’s face. He looked as unyielding as a statue. “Because she hurt me first. She betrayed my love. The only thing she loved about me was my money. So she got it. But nothing beyond that, because she didn’t deserve it. Do you know what it’s like to sleep with a woman, knowing all the while she doesn’t want you?” His voice gained volume. “No, you wouldn’t. Because you’re young and stupid and idealistic and you think people only have sex for love or some such ridiculous reason. Listen very carefully, Vanessa. People have sex because it’s useful. It’s a tool you can use to cut or soothe, depending on your mood, and every time I had sex with your mother it cut me to the core. So I started having sex with other women to cut her back.” Suddenly he clicked his teeth shut and glared at her like it was her fault he’d said so much. “Out.
Now!
”

When she didn’t move fast enough to suit him, he threw a glass. It exploded against the wall behind her.

“
Get out!
” Veins stood in stark relief on his forehead.

Vanessa jumped to her feet and rushed out. She couldn’t believe what she’d heard. This had to be a horrible dream. She just hadn’t woken up yet. Soon her alarm would go off, Justin would smile at her, and she’d laugh at how crazy her subconscious mind could be.

Her feet tangled, and she fell forward, landing on her palms in the hallway.

Al rushed up the stairs, his normally impassive face pale. “Miss, are you all right?”

Nausea that had nothing to do with morning sickness rolled through her. Dragging in air seemed impossible with the tight vise around her chest. She croaked, “Bathroom.”

He reached down and helped her up. They reached a small guest bathroom, and she threw up her breakfast. Her gut continued to clench and unclench like it wanted to expel every morsel, every drop. Even when nothing was left, her body kept spasming. Closing her eyes, she wished she could get rid of her shock and misery as easily as the food she’d had.

Finally she fell back on her heels, her head lolling listlessly against the cold tiled wall. Her insides felt like somebody had raked them clean. She crawled to the sink and gripped the porcelain edge, pulling herself up. Then very slowly, she flushed the toilet and cleaned herself up. The mirror showed her an awful reflection. Red blotches mottled her pale face, and tendrils of hair hung limp with sweat and water.

A small glass of ginger ale appeared in her vision. “This should help,” Al said.

“Thanks,” she said hoarsely. She took a small sip of the cold, sweet drink. Her throat hurt too much to finish it. “I’d like to go home. And if you heard anything, don’t tell anybody. I’ll deal with it later.” She had no idea what she was going to say about the news.