THE LOST HEIRESS RETURNS AFTER DIVORCE
Chapter 85: We were expecting an announcement

Chapter 85: We were expecting an announcement

"I’m sure she just tripped," Lionel added. "Probably stumbled and turned it into a story."

Lauren’s breath hitched.*This is it,* she thought.

Her father had just handed her the perfect setup to turn the story against Heather—again. And she wasn’t about to waste it.

Especially not in front of the Thorne family. Not when she’d spent years shaping herself into the kind of woman they’d want for their son.

"I didn’t do anything wrong," she said aloud, her voice trembling just enough to sound believable. "Do you want the truth?" She looked slowly around the room, pausing as if struggling to find the strength. "Fine. I’ll tell you."

She reached for the napkin in her lap, lightly pressing it under her eye. It drew attention to a single tear that had formed—probably forced, but real enough under the right lighting.

Heather watched her. Was Lauren actually going to tell the truth?

Probably not.

Lauren had never done anything that would damage her own image.

"That day," Lauren began again, "after the wine spilled on Heather, I followed her. I thought maybe she needed help... or some clean clothes. She looked so upset. So I went after her."

Heather already knew where this was going.

She hoped—just for a moment—that Lauren would admit to what really happened.

But deep down, she knew Lauren couldn’t risk it. Not in front of people whose opinion mattered.

"I tried to talk to her, but she told me to leave. I didn’t listen. I thought she was just overwhelmed." Lauren’s voice broke slightly. "I was only trying to comfort her. She looked so... lost. Then out of nowhere—she slammed me into a wall."

The room was silent except for a soft gasp; from Evelyn.

"I even tried to help again, but she hit me. Right in the face." Lauren pointed to the edge of her eye. "I told her I’d tell everyone what she did. And... she ran."

Of course she was making something up.

"I think she panicked," Lauren added softly. "She must’ve tripped on the stairs while trying to get away. She fell. But instead of admitting it, she blamed me."

She blinked up at the Thornes with perfectly rehearsed vulnerability. "And now she’s bringing it up again. After all these years. I don’t know why."

Evelyn gently rubbed her daughter’s back. "You poor girl."

"Heather was always difficult," Lionel said, his voice firm. "She never got along with anyone. Even disappeared for years. I haven’t seen her in so long I almost forgot what she looked like."

Heather didn’t flinch. She was used to this—being spoken about like a cautionary tale. At this point, it was getting boring.

Amaranth didn’t respond. She simply sipped from her glass, her eyes were locked on Lauren and Lionel. She was watching a performance she’d seen far too many times.

"Well," Gerald said after a long pause, "that sounds like a family matter. That’s private, isn’t it? Whatever happened in your home should remain in your home."

"This dinner isn’t about the past. It’s about the future. Our son has married your daughter."

Lauren’s head snapped up. Her tears stopped instantly.

"Excuse me?" Evelyn turned to her husband, frowning. "Did you hear what he just said?"

Gerald didn’t seem fazed. "Yes. I said your daughter."

"I have only one daughter. Which daughter are you talking about?"

Amaranth blinked as if the question made no sense. "Heather," she said plainly.

There was silence.

Evelyn’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

Lauren looked like the floor had dropped out from under her. Her fingers curled tightly into the cloth napkin in her lap, her lips parted in disbelief.

"When did this happen?" she whispered to herself.

Amaranth tilted her head. "Didn’t they tell you?"

"No one told us anything," Lionel said quickly, his eyes narrowed to Heather now. "We thought this dinner was to talk about a potential marriage. Not one that already happened."

"Exactly," Evelyn said, her voice shaking. "We came here expecting an announcement. Not this."

Lauren let out a sharp sound—somewhere between a laugh and a choke. Her hands were trembling now, but she did her best to hide them under the table.

How did she win? How did Heather of all people win?

To her, ’winning’ meant she got the man.

Evelyn leaned forward, she was trying to push her point now. "Look, I’m sure Heather has done... alright for herself. But if we’re talking about fitting into your family—Lauren is the obvious choice. She’s poised. She’s elegant. She knows how to carry herself. She’s dependable—"

Heather raised a brow. *This is embarrassing now.*

"She already has a child," Evelyn continued. "A sweet boy. Unlike Heather, who’s—well, she’s never been a mother."

The room was quiet again.

Amaranth set her glass down gently and looked at Evelyn. "What are you talking about? Heather has a child."

Lauren turned her head slowly. First to Alex, who was seated quietly beside a housekeeper. Then to Heather.

No. No. This wasn’t possible.

She bit down hard on her bottom lip. She could feel the pressure behind her eyes. Her hands were clammy.

She had paid the doctor; paid them to make sure Heather never had that child.

And yet—here he was. Sitting quietly, looking far too much like someone he shouldn’t resemble.

Her eyes darted to Caius, then to the boy again.

The timeline clicked into place.

*He’s Caius’s.*

And worse—*he’s the legitimate heir.*

"No," she said under her breath. "No... that’s not—"

Everything she worked for was slipping away. All the manipulation, her schemes, the image, the family and the future she was fighting so hard for.

Gone.

"Mother," Lauren called out, stopping her mother from completing her sentence mid air. "We’re leaving now."

Heather watched her rise from her chair, which scraped loudly against the floor. At least one of them still had the sense to feel ashamed.

Lauren turned to her half-sister.

"I will see you on set tomorrow, sister," she said through gritted teeth.