My best friend had already picked out a place for me to stay during the pregnancy.
And that place, surprisingly, was arranged by Lucian.
It caught me off guard–Lucian and I barely knew each other.
Why would he go out of his way to help me like this?
“Don’t overthink it,” he said.
“Carter’s been blocking my business in Seattle, and I wanted to hit back.”
“I had to look into you first, obviously.”
So that’s what this was.
Everything between me and Lucian Cross–none of it had been by chance.
I even started to wonder if the evidence my lawyer got… had his fingerprints on it.
Lucian snapped his fingers, practically glowing.
“I didn’t think you’d actually look into it.”
‘Honestly, it really was a coincidence… I just gave things a little push.”
I didn’t comment.
He had helped me, after all.
And why he did it didn’t matter to me.
A clean, straightforward transaction like this–it worked for both of us.
But then Lucian’s tone changed.
‘Still, the more I got to know you, the more I realized the truth might hurt you too much.”
‘My poor girl… how could someone treat you like that?”
His overly dramatic, fake American accent almost made me gag.
So I thanked him–politely but quickly–and showed him the door,
15:20
Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
47.5%
Chapter 8
That had been my plan, anyway.
But in reality, Lucian and I were still in frequent contact.
All the updates on Carter back home came straight from him.
The Kingsleys had locked down the press-
Except Lucian’s media outlet.
So the story of Vivienne cheating on Carter blew up across the inner circle.
Lucian’s reporters told it with flair, like it was a goddamn soap opera.
They painted a vivid picture of Vivienne rolling around with another man.
It spread like wildfire.
Vivienne ended up going into labor early from the stress.
Just like I had.
But we weren’t the same.
She had Carter camped outside her delivery room all night, never closing his eyes.
The moment she was out of danger, Carter walked into her hospital room.
“Guess what he said?”
Lucian broke off his story mid–gossip to ask me.
“I’m actually not dying to know,” I said, getting up to leave.
He quickly pulled me back.
“Hey–come on–don’t go.”
“Aren’t you just a little curious?”
I paused and turned to look at him.
He looked nervous, of all things.
He swallowed and finally said, “Carter Kingsley looked Vivienne dead in the eye and asked her-”
“Why did you lie to me?”
15:20
Nine Years Wasted–Now Pan Marradine Your Rival
Chapter 8
He didn’t try to confirm.
Didn’t rage.⚫
Didn’t try to convince himself it was all in his head.
Just asked her why she lied.
He believed her.
Or maybe… maybe deep down, he always knew.
And this scandal was just the final nail in the coffin.
Because she was lying to him.
‘And then?” I asked.
Lucian licked his lips and gave a bitter laugh.
‘He canceled all her cards and kicked her out of the Kingsley estate.”
‘She cried outside the gates for three days.”
‘He never showed his face.”
So much for her high status in his life.
Anyone who could taint the Kingsley bloodline–he’d throw them out without hesitation.
I placed a hand on my belly and slowly shook my head.
‘He’s in Seattle now,” Lucian added.
He looked at me, eyes filled with something raw.
‘He came here for you.”
15:20
