Chapter 5 - Ethan Was The One Who Bought The Prosthetic Belly
The fake belly had a manufacturer tag.
High-end theatrical maternity prosthetic.
Adjustable.
Custom-colored.
Ordered through a costume supply company in New York.
Cesare’s attorney traced the purchase.
Buyer:
Ethan Vale.
Vanessa’s brother.
Paid with a personal card.
Delivered to an office suite leased by Ethan.
That answered why Vanessa looked at him.
But not everything.
When confronted, Ethan initially shrugged.
“My sister was grieving.”
“You bought equipment to help her fake a pregnancy.”
“She panicked after the miscarriage.”
“You helped her deceive her husband’s entire family.”
“Julian knew.”
“Eventually.”
Ethan looked away.
Cesare noticed.
“What else?”
“Nothing.”
Cesare’s voice lowered.
“You swung at me in a public gala to protect nothing?”
Ethan said nothing.
That was answer enough.
The fake belly was not the real secret.
It was the tool.
May you like
Something else depended on the pregnancy continuing to appear real.
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