He moved his hand away.
“You told me you were sure.”
“I was scared.”
“So you lied.”
“You were leaving me in limbo.”
“So you lied about my child?”
Veronica’s fear turned to anger.
“You lied to your wife every day.
Don’t stand there pretending deception suddenly offends you.”
Nathaniel flinched.
Madison looked at him.
For once, Veronica had told the truth.
Nathaniel had been manipulated, but he was not innocent.
He had walked willingly into the affair.
He had hidden Aspen.
He had financed secrecy.
He had touched Veronica’s stomach in front of a hotel as if Madison’s humiliation were merely administrative work waiting to be completed.
The pregnancy trap did not erase his betrayal.
It only revealed that betrayal had made him vulnerable to someone willing to use his own vanity against him.
Nathaniel turned to Madison.
She recognized the look immediately.
He wanted rescue.
Not forgiveness yet.
First rescue.
He wanted the woman he had underestimated to tell him what to do.
Madison picked up her folder.
“No.”
He blinked.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
Veronica laughed bitterly.
“Of course.
Now you run back to her.”
Nathaniel stood.
“Leave.”
“You don’t get to dismiss me like an employee.”
“Leave my office.”
Veronica’s eyes filled, but her voice remained sharp.
“You promised me a life.”
Nathaniel looked at Madison before answering.
“I apparently promised several people things I had no right to promise.”
Veronica’s face collapsed.
She left without another word.
The door closed.
Nathaniel and Madison were alone.
He stared at the carpet for a long time.
“I was going to tell you.”
Madison gave him the smallest, saddest smile.
“When?”
He had no answer.
“When the baby was born?” she asked.
“When photographers caught you? When Veronica sent me enough evidence that you couldn’t deny it?”
“I don’t know.”
“That has been the most truthful thing anyone has said today.”
Nathaniel looked at her.
