The Crimson Betrayal

PART 2 — THE OTHER PREGNANCY

Isidora stared at the photograph until the woman’s face became permanently etched into her memory.

Her name was Vanessa Reed.

She was Callum’s executive assistant.

The woman who had attended their anniversary dinner, sent Isidora flowers after her pregnancy announcement, and once told her how lucky she was to have such a devoted husband.

Now Vanessa was claiming to be pregnant with Callum’s child.

“Do you know her?” Margaret asked.

“His assistant.”

Margaret’s expression hardened.

“How long has this been going on?”

“I don’t know.”

Isidora enlarged the photograph. Callum was kissing Vanessa outside the entrance of the prestigious Blackstone Hotel. His hand rested possessively on her waist.

Then another message arrived.

Callum promised me he would leave you after the baby is born. He says your marriage is already over.

Isidora felt something tighten in her chest.

She placed the phone on the desk.

“Margaret, I want a private investigator.”

“Of course.”

“And I want everything. Hotel records, financial transfers, messages, anything that proves how long this relationship has existed.”

Margaret nodded.

“One more thing. Don’t tell Callum about the pregnancy announcement yet. We need to know whether Vanessa is actually carrying his child.”

Isidora agreed.

When she returned to the penthouse that afternoon, Callum was standing near the windows, speaking on the phone.

He immediately ended the call.

“Where have you been?”

“Meeting a friend.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You went to see your lawyer, didn’t you?”

Isidora removed her coat.

“Why would you think that?”

“Your assistant mentioned seeing you near Madison Avenue.”

She almost laughed.

His assistant.

Of course.

“Callum, do you have something to tell me?”

He loosened his tie.

“Not today, Isidora. I’m exhausted.”

“Are you having an affair?”

Silence.

For the first time, Callum looked genuinely uncomfortable.

Then he scoffed.

“Where did that come from?”

“Just answer.”

“You’re pregnant, emotional, and spending too much time worrying about things that don’t exist.”

He walked toward her and tried to kiss her forehead.

She stepped back.

His expression darkened.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing. I’m simply tired.”

Before he could respond, his phone rang.

The name on the screen was Vanessa.

Callum quickly rejected the call.

But Isidora had already seen it.

He slipped the phone into his pocket.

“I have to go downstairs. There’s an urgent meeting.”

“At seven in the evening?”

“Business doesn’t follow a schedule.”

He grabbed his jacket and left.

Isidora stood alone in the enormous penthouse.

A few minutes later, her phone vibrated.

It was Margaret.

“We’ve found something,” her attorney said. “Callum has been transferring money to Vanessa for almost eleven months.”

“Eleven months?”

“Yes. And there’s something else. He purchased an apartment under a company registered in her name.”

Isidora closed her eyes.

Eleven months.

That meant the affair had begun before she announced her pregnancy.

Before Callum had kissed her stomach and promised their son would have the happiest childhood imaginable.

“Send me everything,” she whispered.

Then Margaret added something unexpected.

“Isidora, there’s another issue. Vanessa appears to have been telling people that Callum intends to marry her.”

Isidora looked toward the empty bedroom.

“Then perhaps she should know something.”

“What?”

“My husband hasn’t told her that he married a woman who can walk away with far more than he ever imagined.”

For the first time, Isidora smiled.

The game had officially begun.