She saw something there she hadn’t expected.
Truth.
“I believe you,” she said quietly.
Graham’s eyes filled.
He looked away.
Daniel stood up from his chair.
“Phoebe, please.
I’ll tear up the prenup.
I’ll sign anything you want.
Just give me a chance to—”
“A chance to what?” She turned to face him.
“To phase me out in a year instead of today?”
“I was never going to—”
“You signed a document that said you would.”
Daniel’s mouth worked.
Nothing came out.
Simone Kerr stepped toward Phoebe.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“I didn’t know what was really going on.
She told me you were a gold digger who trapped him.
She said I’d be saving him.”
Phoebe looked at her.
“And you believed her?”
Simone’s eyes dropped.
“She paid me.
My business is failing.
She offered to cover my debts if I played the part today.”
Phoebe’s jaw tightened.
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand.”
Phoebe looked at her grandfather.
Charles Sterling’s expression hadn’t changed.
“Miss Kerr,” he said calmly.
“You’ll find a certified check for that amount in your mailbox by Tuesday.
With a condition.”
Simone looked up.
“The condition is that you tell the truth.
Every bit of it.
Right now.
In front of every person in this room.”
Simone looked at Vivian.
Vivian’s face was stone.
“Go ahead,” Phoebe said.
“Tell them everything.”
Simone’s voice trembled.
“Mrs.
Crawford contacted me six months ago.
She said her son was being used by a woman who didn’t love him.
She said I was the kind of woman he actually belonged with.
She wanted me to get close to Daniel first.
Build something real.
And then be ready to replace Phoebe at the wedding if the timing was right.”
Daniel’s face went white.
