Chapter 4 Bloody liar

The press room inside Langford Manor was pure chaos. Flashbulbs snapped. Reporters shouted. Staff circulated champagne like it was a royal coronation.

And in the middle of it all, Tessa Monroe stood trembling, dressed in a glittering designer gown she hadn't picked, makeup layered over her exhaustion, and four cameras pointed at her every flinch.

Ares Langford stood beside her, all charm and false smiles.

"She's just overwhelmed with emotion," he said smoothly to the crowd. "Motherhood looks good on her."

Tessa blinked through the harsh lights, her knees wobbling. She hadn't slept in two days. Her stitches throbbed. Her breasts ached from nursing. Her babies, her babies were with strangers, and she was in full glam, posing like a trophy.

Her stomach turned.

Ares reached for her waist to steady her, still smiling at the crowd. She recoiled slightly but not enough for anyone to notice.

The crowd clapped. Champagne corks popped. The headlines were already writing themselves:

"From Party Animal to Papa of the Year: Ares Langford's Redemption Begins with Four Little Feet."

***

Later that evening, the after party continued. But Ares dragged her to the side once the guests thinned out.

"You looked like you were about to faint out there." He said, his voice was gruff.

"I was," Tessa muttered. "Give me a break, will you?"

"You embarrassed me."

"I'm bleeding, Ares. What do you expect?"

His mouth tightened. "We have a deal. If you want that money, you need to hold it together."

She looked at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "You still think money is more important than my life?"

Before he could answer, a butler interrupted.

"Sir, the babies are running a low grade fever. The pediatrician wants to run a few routine tests."

"Tests?" Ares frowned.

"Just a precaution, sir."

Tessa's entire body stiffened. "What kind of tests?"

"Blood panels, mostly. Immunity, infection markers. Nothing to worry about."

Her face went pale.

Ares noticed immediately. "You okay?"

She nodded too fast. "Fine. Just tired."

But her heart was already pounding.

***

That night, as the tests were being run and the babies finally slept, Tessa sat alone in the private lounge. Her mind drifted helplessly back to the night that started everything.

A New Year's Eve party.

A blackout club in the city.

Strobe lights. Masks.

One dance. One drink. One night she tried to forget.

She hadn't seen his face.

But she remembered the sharp jawline and perfume that was seducing.

The voice that whispered, "You don't need to know my name. Just let go for one night."

She'd been lonely. Desperate. Curious.

She never asked who he was. Never knew, never saw him again.

Now another guy showed up months later in a hospital hallway with a cop and a lie.

She never planned for this to happen, but after he offered her a million dollars and signed the birth certificates?

What was she supposed to do?

She buried her face in her hands, whispering, "God... what have I done? How did my life turn out this bad?"

***

The next morning, Ares walked into the kitchen, sipping espresso, scrolling through social media when a hospital envelope was slid onto the counter.

"Preliminary results, sir," the butler said. "Doctor said there's nothing alarming... but you might want to take a look."

His coffee hit the floor. He reluctantly collected the results, his hands shaking. He dismissed the butler.

The moment he was alone, he tore the results and flushed them down the sink. "I'll pay the doctor a visit letter."