The Billionaire’s Secret Wife(57)

“Yes.”

“Not my daughter? Just your sister?”

Now that she thought about it, Peggy actually hadn’t said anything about Salazar. “Yes, but—”

He laughed. The sound was nasty but some animation came back to his face. “Oh, this is good.”

The sudden change in demeanor was startling. “What?” she said warily. “What’s good?”

Salazar shook his head mirthfully, wiping his eyes. “Well, honey, the fact is, you’re not related to this Peggy through me. You’re related through your mother.”

“Through…mom?”

“Oh yes. Peggy’s father was one of your mother’s boy toys.”

Vanessa’s jaw loosened, and her thoughts scattered. “Mom had a baby with another man?” But how could Ceinlys have hidden it? Peggy looked to be about Vanessa’s age.

A look of half regret and half pain passed through Salazar’s face. “Your mother had an affair, found herself pregnant and seduced me so she could pass the child off as mine. Except I knew it wasn’t.”

“How,” she whispered. “How could you be so sure?”

Salazar looked at her levelly. “Because I had a vasectomy right after Shane was born.”

Right after… Vanessa felt like somebody had punched her in the stomach, forgetting all about Peggy. An icy fist gripped her heart. “You’re lying.”

“’Fraid not.”

“But…why didn’t you let everyone know I’m not yours? It would’ve been so easy.”

“Ah, I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. What’s one extra mouth to feed?”

Her eyes burned. “Dad…” she whispered, but her voice was so low, she didn’t know if he heard her. She couldn’t breathe. One extra mouth to feed. Was that all she was to him?

“Don’t look at me like that. I’ve always been fair to you. If you want to know about your biological father, you’ll have to talk to Ceinlys. And I’d prefer that you didn’t advertise the fact that you aren’t mine. That would be embarrassing to your mother.”

“And to you.”

He shook his head. “Men have more leeway. Call it unfair all you want, but that’s the way society works. Ceinlys would be judged.”

“Why would you care?”

“Until the divorce is finalized, she’s still my wife. And my wife is my concern.”

She started shaking. How could her father sit there and talk in such a calm tone? “If Mom is really your concern, why did you hurt her by having affairs? Why did you stop loving her? You said you loved her when you proposed. You sent her hundreds of love letters and dried rose petals.”

All the warmth and humor left Salazar’s face. He looked as unyielding as a statue. “Because she hurt me first. She betrayed my love. The only thing she loved about me was my money. So she got it. But nothing beyond that, because she didn’t deserve it. Do you know what it’s like to sleep with a woman, knowing all the while she doesn’t want you?” His voice gained volume. “No, you wouldn’t. Because you’re young and stupid and idealistic and you think people only have sex for love or some such ridiculous reason. Listen very carefully, Vanessa. People have sex because it’s useful. It’s a tool you can use to cut or soothe, depending on your mood, and every time I had sex with your mother it cut me to the core. So I started having sex with other women to cut her back.” Suddenly he clicked his teeth shut and glared at her like it was her fault he’d said so much. “Out. Now!”

When she didn’t move fast enough to suit him, he threw a glass. It exploded against the wall behind her.

“Get out!” Veins stood in stark relief on his forehead.

Vanessa jumped to her feet and rushed out. She couldn’t believe what she’d heard. This had to be a horrible dream. She just hadn’t woken up yet. Soon her alarm would go off, Justin would smile at her, and she’d laugh at how crazy her subconscious mind could be.

Her feet tangled, and she fell forward, landing on her palms in the hallway.

Al rushed up the stairs, his normally impassive face pale. “Miss, are you all right?”

Nausea that had nothing to do with morning sickness rolled through her. Dragging in air seemed impossible with the tight vise around her chest. She croaked, “Bathroom.”

He reached down and helped her up. They reached a small guest bathroom, and she threw up her breakfast. Her gut continued to clench and unclench like it wanted to expel every morsel, every drop. Even when nothing was left, her body kept spasming. Closing her eyes, she wished she could get rid of her shock and misery as easily as the food she’d had.