Chapter 3

On the morning of our fifteenth anniversary, Adrian personally adjusted my dress.

He was in high spirits. He smoothed the fabric over my waist and kissed my cheek.

"After tonight, Tuscany," he promised, his eyes shining. "No Bennett. No work. Just us."

I looked at him through the mirror. I gave him a perfect, gentle smile. "Sounds wonderful."

I didn't let him see a single crack in my expression.

When we arrived at the venue, the noise was deafening.

The Bennett 15th Anniversary Gala was the biggest event of the year. The grand ballroom was a sea of crystal chandeliers, gold champagne towers, and endless white roses.

Flashbulbs went off like lightning. Industry leaders and reporters crowded the red carpet.

But my eyes didn't look at the cameras. They immediately found the front row.

Vanessa. Leo. Helen.

Vanessa wore a simple, elegant silver dress. It was exactly the kind of dress a supportive wife might wear to her husband's big night.

She was leaning over, gently fixing the collar of a little boy's suit.

Leo. He was seven.

He didn't look like a dirty secret. He had Adrian's nose and Adrian's dark hair. He was swinging his legs, holding a small toy car, and looking up at the massive crystal chandeliers with wide, innocent eyes.

He was just a completely normal little boy. A boy who probably just wanted to see his dad on stage.

I walked past their row. I glanced at the name card taped to the back of Leo's chair.

It didn't say Bennett Family.

It said: Guest of Helen Bennett.

This was how they did it. This was how they had hidden him in plain sight for seven years.

He wasn't Adrian's secret son entering through the back door. He was just Helen's little guest. It was so normal. It was so incredibly cruel.

"Claire, Adrian," the event coordinator called out. "Time for the official fifteenth-anniversary photos!"

The photography team was waiting by the media wall.

Adrian stood beside me. He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close.

Just as we posed, his phone buzzed.

He pulled it out. I watched his face.

I knew it had to be about Leo.

"Something wrong?" I asked softly.

Adrian didn't even hesitate. "No."

The first lie of the night.

"Vanessa has a problem with one of the guests," he added smoothly. "Mom can handle it."

He was still protecting his secret. He was still keeping Leo entirely out of my world.

I nodded slowly. "Okay."

The photographer raised his camera. "Alright, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, look right here!"

Right before the flash went off, Adrian's phone buzzed again.

He had forgotten to lock it. The screen lit up right between us. He didn't know I could see the notification banner from the corner of my eye.

He won’t stop crying. Please come backstage.

Adrian stared at the message. But he didn't move.

"We’ll take the picture first," he said, his voice tight.

He really was trying to choose me.

The photographer started to count down. "Three. Two."

But then, a staff member jogged over. She leaned in and whispered in Adrian’s ear.

"Ms. Cole says it’s urgent."

I felt the arm around my waist loosen.

Leo was just a seven-year-old boy overwhelmed by a massive, noisy event, and he wanted his dad.

And Adrian couldn't say no to him.

Adrian turned to me, his eyes pleading. "Give me five minutes."

I looked at him. My voice was completely calm.

"The photos start now, Adrian."

"I know," he said. "Five minutes. I promise I’ll be back before the doors open."

He still wouldn't explain why he had to go. Because he still believed I didn't know about the boy.

Adrian turned and quickly walked toward the backstage area.

The photographer lowered his camera awkwardly. "Should we wait for Mr. Bennett?"

"No," I said.

As soon as the flash stopped, Mara walked out from the shadows.

She handed me a thick black folder. "Everything you asked for is here."

I opened it. I took a pen from her and signed my name at the bottom of the page.

Mara watched me. "Once I submit this, I can’t undo tonight."

I closed the folder and handed it back to her.

"Submit it."

Five minutes later, Adrian hurried back.

He was slightly out of breath. He walked straight up to me with a relieved smile.

Then he looked around. The photography team was already packing up the lighting umbrellas.

He frowned. "You already took the picture?"

"You weren’t here," I said flatly.

Adrian looked slightly uncomfortable. He realized he had messed up. But he just took a breath and grabbed my hand again.

"We’ll take another one after the launch," he promised easily.

That was his logic for everything.

Later.

He always believed he could make it up to me later.

The anniversary gala officially began.

Adrian stood on the grand stage. He held the microphone and looked out at the audience.

"Everything Bennett became started with my wife," he said.

He looked directly at me. His eyes were full of pride and genuine love.

"She has never failed me."

The crowd erupted into applause.

But as the cheering swelled, I watched his gaze shift.

It was just for a split second. A tiny, almost imperceptible drop of his eyes to the front row.

He looked at Vanessa. Then, he looked at Leo.

A soft, secret smile touched his lips. It was the proud, hidden smile of a father.

In that single moment, I saw exactly what his perfect world looked like.

He had me standing, fueling his empire and giving him his glory. And he had his secret son sitting in the front row, ready to inherit it all.

He truly believed he had successfully kept us both.

The announcer's voice broke through the applause. "And now, Claire Bennett’s anniversary collection."

The spotlight moved to the massive digital screen behind Adrian.

Adrian walked over to the center podium. He raised his hand and pressed the launch button.

Nothing happened.

He kept his confident smile. He pressed the button again.

Still nothing.

The music stayed off. The giant screen remained pitch black.

A murmur rippled through the audience. Down in the front row, Helen looked confused. Vanessa shifted nervously in her seat.

The backstage manager rushed out onto the stage. She was pale and shaking.

She hurried over to Adrian and whispered one sentence into his ear.

The proud, victorious smile on Adrian's face instantly vanished.

He slowly lowered the microphone. He turned his head and looked at me across the stage.

"Claire..." his voice trembled slightly. "What changed?"