"No. That would be letting him off too easy." I opened my eyes, my gaze ice-cold. "Stephens Group is going public next month on the back of my neural degeneration patent. I want him standing at the very top before he watches everything he has shatter to pieces."
Over the next few days, I stayed at the Ashford family's private estate on the outskirts of the city, resting for the baby's sake.
William didn't come looking for me.
He'd decided that a pregnant woman with no money couldn't hold out for long.
Instead, he started interacting with Alma on social media constantly. Paparazzi even caught him taking her to try on jewelry.
Then, on the third day, Director Jonathan Lambert called Quinn, his voice panicked.
"Mr. Harding, we have a problem! Mr. Stephens got his hands on one of Director Ashford's prenatal reports from somewhere and posted it online. He's claiming the baby has severe genetic defects. That it's deformed!"
I shot to my feet. The room tilted.
"Genetic defects? That's impossible!"
My prenatal records had been handled exclusively through Quinn. The baby was perfectly healthy.
Quinn pulled up his tablet immediately.
The top trending story read: Stephens Group CEO in Tearful Confession: Socialite Wife Concealed Deformed Fetus to Secure Family Fortune.
In the video, William faced the camera looking haggard, Alma sniffling beside him.
William's voice was heavy with grief. "I've been looking forward to this child's birth more than anything. But I never imagined that my wife, Seraphina Ashford, would bribe doctors to conceal severe genetic defects, all to protect her position in the Stephens family. Miss Harding only tried to convince her to face reality, and Seraphina pushed her, causing her old injuries to flare up. As a father, I cannot allow a life destined for suffering to be brought into this world as a bargaining chip."
Alma let her tears fall right on cue. "Seraphina, please, just stop. The baby is innocent. You can't ruin a child's entire life for wealth and status."
The comments section exploded. The entire internet was calling me a heartless, money-grubbing monster who'd stop at nothing.
I clenched my fists so tight my nails bit deep into my palms.
William. He was willing to weaponize his own flesh and blood just to rehabilitate Alma's image. Just to smoke me out.
"Miss Ashford." Quinn steadied me as I nearly lost my footing, his eyes dark. "The report was forged. Alma hired someone to fabricate it. William wanted to protect Stephens Group's reputation ahead of the IPO, so he not only believed it, he seized the opportunity to pin everything on you."
"Good." I laughed, though there was nothing funny about it. My hand rested on my belly. "If they want to back me into a corner, then let's give them exactly what they're asking for. Quinn, make the arrangements. Tomorrow is the Stephens Group IPO celebration gala. I'm going to deliver them a gift personally."
The online firestorm spread faster than I'd anticipated.
I'd barely sat down on the sofa when Linda Stephens called.
I hit speakerphone. Her shrill, venomous voice flooded the living room instantly.
"Seraphina Ashford, you jinx! You have the nerve to hide? The Stephens family line has been passed down for three generations with a single heir each time. We will NOT tolerate this kind of cursed abomination! You get yourself to a hospital right now and get rid of that bastard, then get out of this family with nothing! Alma has already moved into our home. She's the one who can truly help William. She's the wife he deserves!"
I listened in silence until she finished her tirade, then replied, my voice flat and cold. "You want me to leave with nothing? Tell William to come talk to me himself."
I hung up.
At ten that night, William actually showed up at the estate.
He had no idea it was Ashford property. He assumed I'd rented some upscale bed-and-breakfast with whatever savings I had left.
He stood in the living room, looking at me in my loose silk robe, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.
