CHAPTER THREE
1425 Words
Latoya’s pov
Before I could respond, Donny ran between us, holding up his toy again. “Mommy, can we play inside?”
I nodded, grateful for the interruption. “Of course, sweetheart.”
As I walked inside with Donny, I could still feel Jack gaze on me.
The truth was, I was starting to fall for him. And that scared me more than anything.
As we played inside, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Jack words had left me with.
What did he mean by that? Does he mean that I was faking my feelings towards him?
I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on Donny's giggles and playful antics.
But as the day went on, I couldn't help but steal glances at Jack, who was working from home today.
He caught me looking at him a few times, and our eyes would meet in a sparkling moment of connection.
It was as if the air between us was charged with an electric tension, waiting to be unleashed.
As the evening drew to a close, Jack suggested we have dinner together as a family.
As we sat around the dinner table, laughing and chatting, I felt a sense of belonging that I had never experienced before.
This was what it meant to be part of a family.
And as I looked at Jack, who was smiling at Donny's silly jokes, I felt my heart skip a beat.
Maybe, just maybe, I was starting to believe in this fairytale after all.
****************************
After that day, life went smoothly. Jack and I were always together both at home and in the office.
I had fallen for hard for him and even though I feared that he might find out about Renny one day, I still held on to the hope, that he wouldn’t.
Jack was planning a charity gala to donate the proceeding to the poor and I was excepted to be there by his side.
All preparation and plans were going as planned.
******************************
The charity gala was in full swing, the grand ballroom illuminated by golden chandeliers as elegant guests mingled, sipping champagne and exchanging pleasantries. I stood beside Jack, my arm looped through his, a poised smile on my lips as I listened to the conversation between some of the city’s wealthiest figures.
Jack had insisted I accompany him tonight. It was one of the biggest charity events of the year, and he wanted his wife by his side. Our marriage was still new to the public, and attending events together was expected.
“You look beautiful,” he had whispered into my ear before we stepped out of the car.
Now, as I glanced up at him, dressed in his tailored black tuxedo, his sharp jawline accentuated by the dim lighting, I could see why people admired him. He was powerful, commanding, and undeniably attractive.
“Latoya, dear,” an older woman approached me, her diamonds gleaming under the lights. “I must say, you and Jack make quite the couple. I heard you have a child?”
My heart jumped. “Yes,” I answered carefully. “A son.”
“How lovely! Children are such a blessing.” She smiled warmly before turning her attention back to Jack.
I exhaled subtly. Conversations like these were landmines. I had to be careful not to slip up.
Then, amidst the sea of attendees, a voice shattered my carefully constructed world.
“Mom?”
The single word froze me. My chest constricted as I turned in the direction of the voice.
There, standing near a floral centerpiece, was Renny.
My daughter.
She was dressed in a light pink gown, her curly dark hair pulled back into a delicate bun. Her wide brown eyes—so much like mine—blinked in confusion as she stared at me, clutching the hem of her dress.
I couldn’t breathe. My world tilted.
“Mommy?” Her voice was louder this time, clearer, reaching the ears of everyone nearby.
A stunned silence fell over the surrounding guests. My stomach twisted painfully.
Slowly, I turned my head toward Jack.
He was staring at me, his expression unreadable, his entire body rigid.
His grip on his champagne glass tightened, his knuckles turning white.
“Latoya.” His voice was calm, too calm. The kind of calm that concealed a storm. “Who is she?”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
Panic set in. My carefully guarded secret—exposed.
People were whispering now, eyes darting between me, Jack, and Renny. I could feel my chest constricting.
“I…” My voice barely came out.
I didn’t know how to explain.
Renny, oblivious to the tension, took a hesitant step forward, her small hands trembling. “Mommy, you didn’t come back for me. You promised…”
Tears welled up in her innocent eyes, her voice carrying the heartbreak of years apart.
I wanted to run to her, to pull her into my arms, but Jack’s presence loomed beside me, his silence deafening.
The man I had married—the man who trusted me—had just discovered that I had hidden a daughter from him.
“Excuse us,” Jack said suddenly, his voice clipped. He grasped my wrist—not harshly, but firm enough to leave no room for argument.
He led me away from the crowd, toward the exit, his grip never loosening.
“Jack, please—”
“Not a word,” he said sharply, his jaw tight.
We reached the car, and he all but shoved the door open, gesturing for me to get in.
I obeyed, my heart hammering.
As soon as he slid into the driver’s seat, he started the car, pulling away from the grand venue with swift precision.
The air inside the vehicle was thick with tension.
The silence was suffocating.
I stole a glance at him. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. His jaw was locked, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.
I knew he was furious.
I also knew Jack well enough to realize he wasn’t the type to explode in public. He would wait until we were alone.
“Jack—”
“Don’t.” His voice was low, dangerous.
My throat tightened.
I had hurt him.
Not just by lying—but by making him look like a fool in front of everyone.
Minutes passed in silence. The tension was unbearable.
Then—
He suddenly slammed the brakes.
I gasped, my body jerking forward from the abrupt stop.
Jack turned to me slowly.
His dark eyes burned with restrained fury.
“Tell me the truth, Latoya,” he demanded, his voice low and lethal. “How long were you going to keep this from me?”
I swallowed hard, my hands trembling. “Jack, I—”
“Tell. Me. The. Truth.” His voice was dangerously calm, but the way his fingers gripped the steering wheel told me he was barely holding himself together.
Tears pricked my eyes. “I wanted to tell you, but—”
“But what?” His voice rose slightly, his patience cracking. “You had every opportunity, Latoya. Every single day since we got married. And yet, you never thought I deserved to know?”
I couldn’t look at him.
Jack exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair.
“I trusted you,” he murmured, almost to himself.
Those words hit me harder than anything.
I had broken his trust.
I had never seen Jack this angry before. I could feel his fury radiating off him, his entire body rigid with suppressed emotion.
For a second, I thought he might completely lose control.
But then—he did something that terrified me even more.
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down.
He was struggling.
I reached for his hand, but he pulled away.
“Jack…” My voice was barely above a whisper.
He turned to me, his expression cold. “I need space.”
That hurt more than his anger.
The fact that he didn’t even want to look at me anymore.
Tears slipped down my cheeks. “Please… let me explain.”
His jaw clenched.
“Not now,” he said quietly. “I can’t even look at you right now.”
Those words shattered me.
Silence fell between us again.
Jack restarted the car, driving the rest of the way home without another word.
And I knew—nothing would ever be the same again.
- Writer
