"Darling, you truly are a gift to this family."
Constance Delacourt's booming voice carried through the sitting room, stopping you just outside the doorway.
"At last, Keegan has found someone capable of continuing the Delacourt name properly."
The smile that had been on your face vanished.
Only moments ago, you had almost floated through the front door, clutching a sealed envelope against your chest. After ten years of marriage and three beautiful daughters—Rosalie, Josephine, and Tabitha—you had received news you did not expect.
Your family was about to grow again.
You had imagined Keegan's expression when you told him. You had imagined his arms around you, the girls screaming excitedly when they discovered they would soon have another little sibling.
Instead, you heard laughter.
A woman's laughter.
You stepped into the room.
And froze.
Delilah Beauchamp.
The blonde woman sat comfortably on your sofa as though she belonged there, surrounded by Keegan's parents. Worse, Keegan himself sat only a few feet away.
"Constance, you're too sweet," Delilah said with a sugary smile.
Constance immediately shook her head.
"None of that. You're family now."
Gerald Delacourt gave an approving nod from his chair.
"You've given this family exactly what it has waited years for. Someone who can carry on the Delacourt name."
Your stomach dropped.
Then Keegan noticed you.
He stood, sliding his hands casually into his pockets.
"You're home."
That was it. No surprise. No guilt. Nothing.
Your fingers tightened around the envelope.
"Keegan…"
You looked between him and Delilah.
"What exactly is going on?"
Delilah rose from the sofa and crossed the room before deliberately slipping her arm through Keegan's.
"Oh."
Her smile widened.
"You haven't told her yet?"
Your eyes snapped toward your husband.
"Tell me what?"
Keegan released a long breath.
"Fine. There's no point dragging this out."
Something about his complete lack of emotion frightened you more than anger would have.
"Delilah and I have been seeing each other for ten months."
Silence.
For several seconds, you genuinely wondered whether you had heard him correctly.
"Ten… months?"
Keegan continued as though discussing a business arrangement.
"Two months ago, Delilah welcomed a son."
He reached toward the table, picked up a photograph, and held it out to you.
"My son."
Your gaze fell to the photograph. A tiny boy rested in Delilah's arms.
Your whole world seemed to tilt.
Keegan's voice became colder.
"You gave me Rosalie, Josephine, and Tabitha. I love them, but you know my family's traditions. The Delacourt estate passes through a male successor."
You stared at him.
"So that's what this is about?"
Constance scoffed.
"Don't pretend you don't understand. Ten years, my dear. Ten years, and Keegan still had nobody to continue his name."
"My daughters carry his name."
"Girls,"
Gerald corrected dismissively.
"The family rules are clear."
Your expression hardened.
"And what happens to them?"
Keegan barely hesitated.
"They remain with you. I'll provide financially, of course. I've already arranged another house for you and the girls."
Another house. He had planned everything. Your replacement. Your removal. Your entire marriage neatly packed away before you even knew it was ending.
Delilah leaned against Keegan with a satisfied little smile.
"You should be grateful. Keegan is being very generous."
You looked at her, then at him.
"Generous?"
A bitter laugh escaped you.
"I stood beside you for ten years, Keegan. I supported you when half these people didn't believe you would amount to anything. I helped you build the life you're standing in now."
Your voice cracked despite your determination not to let it.
"I gave you ten years of my life."
Keegan said nothing.
You swallowed.
"Did any of it matter?"
Still nothing. And somehow, his silence answered you more clearly than words ever could.
Your eyes dropped to the envelope still crushed between your fingers. You had walked through that door believing it contained the happiest surprise of your marriage. Now it felt almost cruel.
Slowly, you opened it.
Keegan frowned.
"What is that?"
You pulled out the medical report.
"I went to the doctor today."
Constance rolled her eyes impatiently.
"And?"
You raised your gaze to Keegan.
"Our family was going to grow again."
For the first time that evening, Keegan's composure cracked. His hands slipped from his pockets.
"What?"
Delilah's smile disappeared.
You held the papers against your chest.
"I came home because I wanted to surprise you. I thought you'd be happy."
Keegan stared at you.
Constance, however, recovered quickly.
"Well, that changes nothing."
Your eyes moved toward her. She crossed her arms.
"Delilah has already given Keegan the successor this family needs. We don't need another complication from you."
Something inside you finally snapped. Not into tears. Into clarity.
You carefully returned the report to its envelope.
"Then I suppose you've made your choice."
Keegan took a step toward you.
"You—"
"No."
Your voice was quiet, but it stopped him.
"You chose Delilah. Your parents chose Delilah. You decided my daughters weren't good enough for this family."
You looked around the room one final time.
"So enjoy your precious heir."
Delilah's victorious smile slowly returned. She believed she had won. Constance believed the Delacourt bloodline was finally secure. Gerald was already discussing what would someday belong to the little boy.
And Keegan? Keegan had just destroyed a ten-year marriage because he believed Delilah had given him the one thing he had always wanted.
There was only one problem.
Delilah had lied. The little boy wasn't Keegan's.
And sooner or later, the truth about the Delacourt family's so-called heir was going to come crashing down around them.