Chapter 54
Lindey and Matthew tensed when I spoke, not surprised, but definitely uneasy. "Rea, we know about it. It's not your fault. It's that rascal Jace's fault," Lindey began, cursing Jace before I could get a word in. She was trying to prevent me from saying what she didn't want to hear.
Matthew, more rational, interrupted, "Let Rea speak." Lindey's grip on my hand tightened, her eyes pleading with me not to say what she feared. I lowered my gaze, trying to remain composed. "Jace and I have broken up."
The room fell silent, Lindey's grip tightening further. "Why?" Matthew's voice was deep and authoritative. I knew I had to give them a reason they couldn't argue with, or this would never end. Simply saying Jace and I were incompatible wouldn't suffice.
So I decided to be honest. "Because of Tanya. He cares more about her than he does about me, his fiancรฉe."
Lindey pulled my hand closer. "What has he done with that woman? Rea, tell me, and I'll deal with her myself. Why is she clinging to my son?"
Matthew's face darkened. "Rea, we don't know much about his outside affairs. Tell us, and we'll make it right."
I wanted to ask, "Don't you know? The rumors must have reached you by now. Haven't you checked it out?" Knowing Matthew, that was impossible. RiverwaveCorp was under Jace's control now, but Matthew had founded it. Even as chairman, he still held considerable influence, despite delegating most responsibilities to Jace. Jace consulted him on many matters. Matthew was the real decision-maker. He might appear uninvolved, but he was actually running the show from behind the scenes. He knew everything. Jace's scandal with a widow was all over the company. There was no way Matthew didn't know. He was simply waiting for me to speak.
So I laid it out. "He gave Tanya a corporate card and let her move into the penthouse meant for me. She bought the bedding he likes. And he's been sneaking off to prenatal checkups with her."
Lena had informed me about the prenatal checkups. Jace was smart enough not to register Tanya's prenatal records at Lena's hospital, opting instead for a fancy private hospital in Seavora. He didn't know Lena was a consulting specialist there. The day we were supposed to register our marriage, he'd lied about needing to reschedule due to Abbot Levinsky's advice, but he was actually with Tanya for her checkup. Lena happened to be there for a surgery and saw the whole thing. She didn't tell me immediately, thinking it would only upset me after we registered. When she heard we hadn't registered yet, she remained quiet, not wanting to make things worse for me. It wasn't until today, on my way to the Johnston residence, that she revealed everything, giving me another reason to confront Jace.
"Is that true? That rascal!" Matthew slammed his hand on the table, making me jump. It was terrifying. Matthew was usually so calm and rarely got angry. Even though his anger wasn't directed at me, it still shook me.