The Wife He Replaced

Chapter20

CHAPTER 20

Victor did not need confirmation anymore.

He already knew.Rita had a child.

That much had been obvious from the moment he overheard her voice days ago. Soft in a way he had never heard before.

Not for him.Never for him.

That was not what kept him here. It was the question that refused to leave him alone. Who is the father of Rita's child?

And importantly.

Why does something about Rita's child feel wrong?

"Sir."

Victor did not turn.

"Sir, you have been standing here for ten minutes."

Still nothing.

A quiet sigh came from behind him before footsteps moved closer.

"You are starting to look like a stalker. That is new."

Victor finally glanced sideways.

"Careful Adrian Cole."

Adrian Cole smirked slightly adjusting the cuffs of his suit like he had all the time in the world.

"You called me out here for something, " Adrian Cole said. "Not to watch your ex-wife Rita leave work like a man who lost control of his life."

"Rita is not my wife."

"Legally? No " Adrian Cole shrugged. ". The way you are standing here says otherwise."

Victor ignored that. His eyes remained fixed on the building.

On time. Rita stepped out. Adrian Cole followed his gaze.

"And there she is, " he murmured. "The woman who walked away from Victor Vale... And lived to tell the tale."

Victor did not respond as Rita continued to walk calmly towards her car.

Adrian Cole studied Rita carefully like someone who just set a trap

"Rita is different."

Victor Nodded. "I know."

"No " Adrian Cole said slowly. "Not just stronger. Calculated."

Victor finally looked at Adrian Cole. "What are you getting at?"

Adrian Cole's gaze returned to Rita as she reached the curb now pulling out her phone.

Her expression softened. That same softness.

Victor Vale noticed it again.. This time he did not react. Because that was not the problem.

"Ritas child " Victor Vale said. Adrian Cole went quiet.

"That is where it gets interesting."

Victor Vale did not like that tone.

"Talk." Adrian Cole exhaled slowly.

"There is no father of Ritas child."

Victor Vales brows drew together slightly.

"What?"

"No legal record. No name attached. No custody dispute. No claim." That did not make sense.

"Keep digging."

"I did " Adrian Cole said. ". That is the problem." Victor Vale turned to him now.

"What problem?" Adrian Cole held his gaze.

"It is like the father of Ritas child... Does not exist."

Then there was silence, the kind that sits heavy. Unsettling.

Victor Vales mind moved fast connecting pieces that did not quite fit.

Rita was not careless. She would not leave something like that

Unless.

"Rita is hiding him " Victor Vale said.

Adrian Cole tilted his head slightly.

". Protecting him." Victor Vale's eyes narrowed. From what? From who?

His gaze snapped back to Rita as she ended her call with a soft smile Like nothing had happened

Victor Vale felt something tighten in his chest.

"Rita is hiding something than just a child " he muttered.

Adrian Cole did not disagree. "There is more." Victor Vale's attention sharpened again.

"What."

Adrian Cole hesitated. That was rare.

"I found a record."

Victor Vales expression went still.

"Go on."

"A hospital admission. Week Rita disappeared."

Victor's pulse slowed. He became calm trying to connect the dots.

"What kind of admission?"

Adrian Coles voice dropped slightly.

"Severe trauma."

Victor Vale did not react. Not outwardly.

Something shifted behind his eyes.

"Details?" he asked.

"Restricted " Adrian Cole said. ". It was not minor."

Victor Vales jaw clenched. A memory flickered. Rita standing in his office.

Begging. Then gone. Gone fast. Too clean.

Too quiet.

"Someone hurt Rita " Victor Vale said.

Adrian Cole did not answer. He did not need to.

Victor Vales gaze drifted back to Rita again.

This time.It lingered. Longer. Sharper.

"Rita did not just leave " he said slowly.

"No " Adrian Cole agreed. "Rita ran."

Victor Vales fingers curled slightly at his side.

Suddenly.

This was not just curiosity anymore.

It was not about Ritas child. It was, about something entirely. Something buried.

Something that had been kept from Victor Vale. His voice dropped.

"Find out who did it."

Adrian Cole studied him.

"That is not what you asked me to do."

"It is now."

Then Adrian Cole nodded once."Alright."

Rita's car pulled up. She stepped in without looking. Did not hesitate. Did not falter. Like she had nothing left behind.

Victor stood there, watching as the car disappeared into thin air.

"Rita hid the father of her child " he said under his breath.

Adrian Cole glanced at him. "You think that is the secret?"

"No."

"I think Ritas child is."

And that.

That was the time

the thought formed clearly.

Sharp.Dangerous.Impossible to ignore.

Something was wrong. For the first time.

Victor Vale was not sure he wanted the truth.

He was going to find it anyway.