Chapter 72 The Price of One Night
DAVID
The grand hall seemed colder than usual, the air thick with tension. My family was gathered, their expressions a mixture of confusion and dread as Lizzy stood there, a smug smile playing on her lips.
How did she know about the family dinner? She had no business being here. Her confidence irritated me as much as the sinking feeling in my stomach.
Janet caught my eye from across the room, her raised brows and smirk silently taunting me. I told you so, her expression seemed to say.
My chest tightened. Lizzy was trouble trouble I thought I’d left behind weeks ago. I glanced at her again, but she met my gaze with an unsettling boldness. She was toying with me, and I hated that she felt she could.
“Why are you here?” my mother’s voice broke the silence. It wasn’t just a question; it was a challenge. Her tone was razor-sharp, and she wasn’t hiding her disdain.
Lizzy smiled sweetly, her head tilting slightly. “Oh, Mom, aren’t you happy to see me?” Her saccharine tone was laced with mockery, her words calculated to provoke.
“You’re not my daughter,” my mother snapped, her voice trembling. I noticed how her hands curled into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms.
Lizzy pouted, placing a hand dramatically over her heart. “Ouch, that hurts,” she said, though the glint in her eyes betrayed her amusement.
“Stop wasting time,” Janet said, her voice casual as she popped a cookie into her mouth. “What do you want?”
Lizzy’s eyes flicked to Janet, unimpressed, before returning to me. She took a deliberate step closer, her heels clicking against the marble floor. “Nothing much,” she said, her lips curling into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I just thought it was time I shared some news with everyone. I’m pregnant with David’s child.”
The room fell silent.
“What?” my mother gasped, her hand flying to her chest as she staggered back. I instinctively stepped forward, but she steadied herself against the edge of the dining table.
“Yes, Mommy,” Lizzy said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “I’m carrying your beloved son’s child. We had such a passionate night three weeks ago. Isn’t that right, David?” Her gaze burned into mine, daring me to deny it.
I forced my jaw to unclench, meeting her stare with cold detachment. “How do you even know it’s mine?” My voice was sharp, cutting through the thick tension.
“Oh,” she laughed, a sound that made my skin crawl. “So you’re not even denying that we had sex?” She reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded piece of paper, waving it theatrically. “Here’s the proof. A pregnancy test confirming I’m three weeks along. Congratulations, Daddy.”
The sound of the front door slamming startled everyone. I turned to see Grandpa standing at the entrance, his cane in hand, his face a storm of anger. His eyes darted from me to Bella, who looked frozen in place.
“What is going on here?” Grandpa demanded, his deep voice resonating through the hall.
Lizzy, unfazed, turned to him with a feigned expression of innocence. “Oh, just a little family matter,” she said. “You see, I should already be married to David. But since that hasn’t happened yet, I thought I’d remind everyone of what I’m owed.”
Grandpa’s expression darkened as he glared at her. “That’s not possible,” he said firmly. “David is already married.”
Lizzy’s smile widened. “Then he should divorce his stupid, useless wife and marry me. Or else…” She paused dramatically, looking around the room as though savoring the moment. “I’ll post everything online. David Copperfield got me pregnant and is now denying it.”
I saw Bella’s expression shift, her shock giving way to something sharper. Before I could react, she strode across the room and slapped Lizzy hard across the face. The sound echoed like a gunshot.
Lizzy staggered, her hand flying to her cheek as her eyes widened in disbelief. “Don’t ever call me stupid!” Bella shouted, her voice trembling with rage. “I don’t care if you’re carrying his child. Why did you have to ruin this night for me?”
Before Lizzy could recover, Bella slapped her again. This time, Lizzy stumbled back, almost losing her balance.
“You little..” Lizzy lunged forward, reaching for Bella, but Bella stepped aside with the precision of someone who wasn’t new to a fight. Lizzy’s momentum carried her forward, and she tripped, landing unceremoniously on the floor.
Bella stood over her, glaring down with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. “Now listen to me,” she said, her voice low and commanding. “Go home. Rest. You and David can deal with your nonsense later. But tonight? Tonight, I just want peace.”
I snapped my fingers, signaling the guards. “Get her out of here,” I ordered. Two of them stepped forward, lifting Lizzy by her arms despite her protests.
As they dragged her out, Grandpa turned to me, his face unreadable. “Follow me,” he said sharply before walking out, his cane tapping against the floor with each step.
I glanced at Bella, who was breathing heavily, her hands still clenched at her sides. For the first time that night, she didn’t look lost or confused. She looked… fierce.
But as I followed Grandpa out of the room, one thing was certain in my mind I wasn’t the father of Lizzy’s unborn child. There was no way.