That evening, Dominic came home.
I heard his car before I saw him.
The front door opened harder than usual.
He walked into the living room without removing his jacket.
"Where is Sophia?"
"Upstairs."
He looked at me.
"We need to talk."
I was sitting on the sofa.
The paper necklace was on the coffee table.
I had taken it out earlier because I wanted to repair the heart that had fallen off.
Dominic noticed it.
His expression changed.
"She made that for me?"
"Yes."
He picked it up.
For a moment, he seemed uncomfortable.
Then he placed it back on the table.
"Vivienne, what happened at the gala was not what you think."
I looked at him.
"Then tell me what it was."
He loosened his tie.
"That woman is connected to an important business relationship."
I waited.
"Her family has influence."
I looked at him.
"Is that why you introduced her as your wife?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"It was a complicated situation."
"Did you introduce her son as your son?"
He looked away.
I felt the room grow very quiet.
"Dominic."
He finally spoke.
"He's been part of my life for some time."
I stared at him.
"How long?"
He didn't answer.
I repeated the question.
"How long have you known that child?"
"Several years."
I felt something inside me sink.
Several years.
Sophia was six.
Several years meant that while I was helping her learn to read, while I was taking her to birthday parties, while I was waiting for Dominic to come home, he had been building another relationship.
I looked at the necklace.
The paper hearts were bright.
The ribbon was uneven.
Sophia had made it with the belief that her father would be happy.
"Does he know about Sophia?"
Dominic looked uncomfortable.
"Yes."
"Does she know about him?"
"No."
I nodded slowly.
"Then you've kept two children in separate stories."
He raised his voice.
"Don't turn this into something it isn't."
I looked directly at him.
"What is it, Dominic?"
He didn't answer.
I stood up.
"I want the truth. Not another explanation about business."
He walked toward the window.
"I never intended for you to find out this way."
I almost laughed.
That sentence was worse than an apology.
He had not said he was sorry.
He had said he wished I hadn't discovered it.
I sat down again.
"Does that woman believe she's your wife?"
He remained silent.
"Does her family believe it?"
He rubbed his face.
"There's more involved than you understand."
I nodded.
"That's becoming clear."
He turned toward me.
"Your brother is putting everything at risk."
"No. Your decisions are being examined."
"You don't understand how much this company means to me."
I looked at him.
"And you don't understand what our daughter means to me."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Sophia appeared at the bottom.
She was holding a small stuffed rabbit.
"Daddy?"
Dominic turned immediately.
His expression softened.
"Hello, sweetheart."
She walked toward him.
"Are you staying home tonight?"
He bent down.
"Yes."
"Can we have dinner together?"
He glanced at me.
Then back at her.
"Maybe."
Sophia looked disappointed.
I wanted to tell her that she deserved more than maybe.
But I didn't want to make her feel that she had to choose between us.
"Go wash your hands, sweetheart. Dinner will be ready soon."
She nodded and went into the kitchen.
Dominic watched her leave.
Then he turned toward me.
"Can we please keep this away from her?"
I looked at him.
"You should have thought about that before."
He sat down.
For the first time, he seemed tired.
Not the tiredness he used to complain about after business trips.
Something deeper.
His phone rang.
He checked the screen.
The woman from the gala.
I recognized the name because I had seen it on the notification when his phone lit up beside him.
He declined the call.
A moment later, a message appeared.
He read it and put the phone facedown.
I didn't ask what it said.
I no longer wanted to collect pieces of his other life.
My own phone rang.
Victor.
I answered.
"Viv."
"I'm here."
"We have an update."
I glanced at Dominic.
"Go ahead."
"The board has received additional information about the funding structure. The legal review is continuing."
"Anything confirmed?"
"Several financial arrangements were not fully understood by the people making decisions about the company's long-term position."
I looked at Dominic.
He was staring at the floor.
Victor continued.
"Also, the woman who attended the gala has contacted the company."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"She's asking questions about the investment review."
I looked toward the kitchen.
Sophia was washing her hands.
"Does she know about the Sterling family?"
"She has been informed that the financing relationships are being examined. I don't know what Dominic told her about you."
I glanced at my husband.
He looked up.
For a second, our eyes met.
I knew he was listening.
"Victor, don't involve the woman or her son in anything they haven't done."
"I agree."
"And don't let anyone use the child as leverage."
"I won't."
We ended the call.
Dominic stood.
"What did Victor say?"
I put my phone down.
"He's reviewing the company's agreements."
"You know what I mean."
I looked at him.
"Then ask him yourself."
He shook his head.
"You've changed."
I looked at the paper necklace.
"No, Dominic."
I spoke quietly.
"I've finally stopped making excuses for you."
He didn't respond.
From the kitchen, Sophia called that dinner was ready.
I walked away from him.
The three of us sat at the table that evening.
Sophia talked about her drawing.
Dominic answered her questions.
I passed the vegetables.
Nobody mentioned the gala.
Nobody mentioned the woman upstairs.
Nobody mentioned the boardroom.
But the little paper necklace remained on the living room table.
And for the first time, I understood that the most important thing I could protect was not the Sterling fortune, the company, or my pride.
It was the little girl who still believed her father would wear something she had made with her own hands.
Click here to continue reading: PART 9: The Board Requested an Explanation From Dominic, but His Answers Only Raised More Questions About the Money Behind His Success
The Little Girl With a Handmade Gift Was About to Discover That Her Father Had Built a Second Family
Part 8 of 20
