Chapter 5 – THE DATE ON THE LOCKET

“When was Lucy born?” Nicholas asked, his voice tight.

Maria frowned, wiping her hands on her apron.

“October 14th. Why?”

Nicholas stared at the back of the photograph inside the locket.

The date stamped there was October 14th, exactly three years ago.

The baby in the picture had the exact same striking green eyes as Lucy.

“Where did Vivienne get this?” Nicholas asked Arthur.

“It was hidden in a false bottom of her jewelry box, sir,” the butler replied.

Nicholas looked at Maria.

“Maria, did your husband have any family?”

“No,” Maria said, confused. “He was an orphan. Just like me.”

Nicholas handed her the locket.

Maria looked at it. All the color drained from her face.

“This… this is Lucy. But I never took this picture. And I’ve never seen this locket.”

Nicholas felt a cold dread settle in his stomach.

Vivienne hadn’t just killed Maria’s husband because of the watch.

She had been keeping tabs on Lucy since the day she was born.

“Bring Vivienne up here,” Nicholas ordered.

Minutes later, Vivienne was dragged into the study, her expensive dress torn and ruined.

She looked terrified now.

Nicholas threw the locket onto the desk.

“Why do you have a picture of her child, Vivienne?”

Vivienne looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Nicholas leaned over the desk.

“You killed a paramedic. You killed my brother. And you’ve been stalking a three-year-old girl. If you don’t tell me why right now, you won’t survive the hour.”

Vivienne swallowed hard.

“She isn’t his child.”

Maria gasped. “What?”

Vivienne looked at Maria with pure venom.

“Your pathetic husband found the baby in the wreckage of Domenic’s car. Domenic was hiding her. Your husband took her home and pretended she was yours because you couldn’t have children.”

The room went dead silent.

Nicholas stared at Lucy, who was playing quietly in the hallway.

Then he looked at his brother’s journal.

Domenic hadn’t just been hiding a ledger.

He had been hiding a child.

“Whose baby is she?” Nicholas demanded.

Vivienne smiled a bloody, cruel smile.

“She’s yours, Nicholas.”

TITLE: THE LIE SHE TOLD

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