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“All because you’ve been feeding her lies since she was eight years old.”
His eyes gleamed with triumph. He manipulated everyone around him with his lies. Maybe her daughter didn’t recognize it, maybe Bron didn’t either. But Angela knew him so well.
“I didn’t need to tell lies,” he said smoothly. “You simply showed your true colors.”
The only true color she had was in the love she bore her children. The love Donald had torn to pieces. “I want you to let her be in the wedding.”
He held up his hands, spreading his fingers as if he were surrendering to her whims. “It’s Brianna’s decision, not mine. You see, she actually had a thought for your feelings. She only made me bring it up because she didn’t want to sound like the bad guy in front of Sienna.”
He lied so easily, without an insincere line on his face. But if she wanted to call him on this latest lie, she’d have to reveal that Bron had come by to see her. Lacking even an ounce of animosity toward the woman, she couldn’t bring her into the discussion. At least not with the truth. “I’m sure you browbeat her into it.”
He smiled widely, showing little of his teeth. “I don’t have to browbeat her. She knows the right thing to do. Besides, she adores me.”
“How long do you think that’s going to last once she finds out what you’re really like?”
His smile didn’t falter at the insult. “I can’t believe Sienna actually called you about the matter. I know about your lunch with her and how you’re trying to make everything up to her, but she still doesn’t trust you.”
“You’d be surprised who Sienna talks to.”
He laughed softly, snidely. “Ah, so it was dear Teresa.”
“It could be anybody,” she told him. “Our daughter talks, your fiancée talks, their friends talk. You’d be surprised at all the talk.”
“I’d be surprised if your daughter told you anything.” Donald had made very sure of that.
“I want you to put her in the wedding.”
His jaw ticked. “Or what?”
She had nothing she could hold over him. All she said was, “Both Sienna and your fiancée are going to figure out exactly who you are. They’re going to see through your lies and recognize how you manipulate people.”
He stood then, as if he suddenly realized his lies might be traceable. “If you’re considering making trouble, you better think about what you have to lose, my dear ex-wife.”
“I have nothing to lose. You already stole my daughter and my son.”
He wagged a finger. “But you’re hoping for a reconciliation.”
“You’ve made very sure that won’t happen.”
She stood too, slowly, sliding the strap of her handbag up her arm. Calmly, almost serenely, she said, “What if Sienna were to learn that Bron never said anything at all, that you were telling yet another lie?”
“Her name is Brianna, not Bron.” Except that he was the only one who refused to call her by the nickname she preferred, another of his power trips. “And neither of them will ever believe a word you say.”
She turned, saying over her shoulder as she walked away. “Maybe Sienna would.”
“Then I’d have to tell her the truth. That she’s not actually my daughter, but I raised her anyway. Out of the goodness of my heart.”
Angela didn’t falter even a single step.
Teresa was right. She needed to tell Sienna the truth sooner rather than later.
And put an end to Donald’s power over her before he made sure Sienna found out in the worst possible way.
* * *
Her job searchhad fallen apart. Sienna didn’t want to jump ship for something worse. She wanted a smaller but more prestigious firm with the opportunity to move up and make partner, and she didn’t mind proving herself. She was tired of the bureaucracy and the backstabbing in a faceless, unfeeling corporation.
But there was nothing out there right now.
