Chapter 35

The ride to the Summer's mansion was quiet and tense. All Cole could see was red. He was trying his best to hold back tears while simultaneously considering how to deal with Vanessa and Connie. He couldn't wait to confront them.

Cole was lost in thought when his phone buzzed. He wasn't in a good mood, but knew he shouldn't ignore calls, so he answered. It was his father.

He waited two seconds before speaking.

"What the hell, Cole? You got a girl pregnant, and I'm the last to know? Congratulations. When's the wedding?"

Cole Matthis mentally facepalmed.

"Who told you that bullshit?" he asked, though he suspected who it might be.

"Is that really important? Why am I the last to know I'm going to be a grandfather? I know I want grandkids, but you didn't need to keep it a surprise. You should start getting ready for the baby. I want you and Vanessa married before the baby comes. And please be kind to her. You know you can't act harsh now that she's carrying your heir."

Cole scoffed. "You think the baby she's carrying is mine?"

"Oh, Cole, you shouldn't think that way. I know how you're feeling. I had cold feet when your mom told me she was pregnant with you. I promise you, as a first-time dad, it's okay to feel some type of way. But I give you my word you'll get the best feeling when you hold your baby in your arms for the first time."

Cole's heart sank. For the first time, it hit him that he'd missed these precious moments with Hailey. Her twins' age made it clear she was pregnant before she left him. He suddenly wondered how she'd found out, why she hadn't told him, and how she'd coped with two babies at once.

Cole felt terrible.

"I don't care what anyone has told you, Dad. The child Vanessa is carrying isn't mine."

"Come on, son. I know you've both been having issues lately, but this is a new beginning. You need to let go of the past."

"Do you trust me?" Cole asked.

"Why would you ask that? Of course, I do!"

"I know you want a grandchild badly, but I'm not the father of Vanessa's child. If you don't believe me, then feel free to be a grandfather to a child who isn't your blood."

Cole ended the call.

"I'm so happy. I'm glad I took your advice, Mom. I feel at peace now. I know I won this time," Vanessa smiled, sitting beside her mother.

"Oh, that's nothing. I know I'm smart, and I'm glad you listened to me—it means I can always help you out. And of course, there's no way I'm going to let you get cheated by that bastard child! Cole has always been yours, and only you deserve to start a family with him."

"I am so happy and proud of myself. Hailey is just a liar. She keeps saying she wants nothing to do with Cole, but we clearly saw the pain in her eyes when I told her Cole and I were expecting a child."

"She's a bimbo! And I'll never let her win over my child," Connie stated.

"I also told Moore he's going to be a grandfather."

"Really?" Vanessa smiled.

"Yes, he was really excited. I also let him know the wedding has to be before you start showing, so you'll fit into that beautiful dress you saw in the magazine. He said he'd speak to Cole, and money won't be an issue."

"Oh, God, Mom, I love you so much." Vanessa hugged her mother.

"What's going on here?" Eric entered the living room.

"Oh, I'm congratulating my daughter on her upcoming wedding."

"You and Cole have talked this out?" Eric stared at Vanessa.

"What do you mean, Eric? Of course, they're getting married. You should be happy for your daughter."

"Cole said—"

"Oh, please! To hell with what Cole said. He's just having cold feet, but I'm sure he'll come to his senses soon enough," Connie said. "And you should start compiling your guest list. Moore's going to call you anyway!"

"Are you that eager to send our daughter off to be married?"

"Don't be dramatic, Eric. Cole isn't just anybody. He was meant to marry Vanessa four years ago, remember? But your so-called daughter ruined it!"

Eric ignored his wife and turned to his daughter. "Marry a man who loves and is obsessed with you, or you'll regret it!" He left the room.

"Why is Dad so mean?"

"Oh, he's probably having cold feet. Men have a hard time admitting their daughters are getting married. Don't worry, he'll be fine."

"We have a wedding to plan, so nothing will distract us."

"Now that everything's certain, you need to talk to Cole," Connie said.

Vanessa sighed deeply.

Chapter 33 (Note: This chapter is seemingly out of order in the original text. It should be placed before Chapter 35)

"Don't be afraid, dear. Moore promised he would talk to Cole, and I trust Moore to keep his word. You can go to his place this evening."

Vanessa nodded, happy everything was falling into place.

Eric was approaching his car when he saw a familiar vehicle pull up.

He saw Cole exit the car hurriedly and approached him.

"What a pleasant surprise, Co—"

"Where the hell is your wife and bitchy daughter?!" Cole shouted.

"What? Why?"

"I'm not leaving until I kill them with my bare hands and feed their nasty bodies to the dog," Cole said, entering the house.

Frightened and confused, Eric followed him.

"There you are!" Vanessa and Connie stood up when they saw Cole. Vanessa hid behind her mother, frightened by his expression.

"I was taught not to hit a woman, but I'm not leaving until I deal with you both," Cole said angrily, scanning the room for something to use against them.

"What's gotten into you?" Connie asked shakily.

"What's going on here?" Eric interrupted, trying to stop Cole.

Finding nothing to attack them with, Cole shoved Eric aside and dragged Vanessa from behind her mother. He pushed her against the wall, grabbing her neck. He was choking her in his rage at losing access to his sons, forgetting he'd had hand surgery a few days ago. "You bitch!!! Look into my eyes and tell me exactly when I fucked you and put a baby in you."

"Please, take your hands off her," Eric tried to pull Cole off Vanessa, but failed.

"Take your filthy hands off my daughter! She's pregnant, and you're choking her! What the hell is wrong with you?" Connie hit Cole, but he ignored her and continued choking Vanessa.

Connie, intentionally or not, hit him where he'd been shot.

Cole released Vanessa momentarily. His hand landed hard across Connie's cheek, and he shoved her to the floor, unconcerned if she hit her head.

Eric knew he couldn't handle this alone. He summoned the housekeeper to call security.

"How dare you lie to Hailey?" Cole resumed choking Vanessa.

"Plplease, lelet me go," Vanessa gasped for air.

"How fucking dare you lie to me to the woman I love? You want to ruin my beautiful family with this bastard pregnancy of yours? How fucking dare you?!!!!"

"Please, just let her go. I promise we'll settle this amicably," Eric intervened, but Cole refused to stop.

"Stay the fuck out of this, Eric! I'm only leaving after I've killed and buried this slut."

Three security guards arrived, pulled Cole off Vanessa, and took him out.

"You almost killed her! What the hell is wrong with you?" Eric confronted Cole.

Cole stared at Eric with pity. "You had no idea you were living with the worst devils. Do you?"

"I still think you're overreacting. You almost killed Vanessa and hit my wife."

"Give me some slack, Eric! If you can't teach your daughter and wife some manners, I'd be more than delighted to teach them a lesson."

"I've put up with your family's bullshit for so long, but they went too far this time!"

"I know I've made shitty mistakes in the past. I know I've made decisions I'm not proud of, decisions I'm still paying for, but I'd never let anyone trample on my integrity or defame me!"

"For fuck's sake, I never slept with your daughter! Why the hell would she tell everyone I'm the father of the bastard child she's carrying?"

"Hailey was this close to forgiving me, but your damn wife and daughter had to ruin everything by going to her place and feeding her lies."

"They did that?" Eric raised his eyebrows.

"Fuck you all. Let this be the last time you or any member of your family interferes in my business or goes near Hailey. Those two bitches might have escaped death today, but I promise they won't escape if they mess with me or Hailey again."

The extraneous information at the end of the passage ("1/4 14:29 Sat, 20 Apr," "14-27 244, ZV API") has been removed as it's not part of the narrative text itself.