Chapter 2 - The Baby Shower of Deceit
Two weeks passed. To keep up appearances and ensure Ethan and Lily felt entirely secure in their plot, I did the unthinkable: I volunteered to host an intimate, incredibly lavish welcome-home party for Lily and her newborn at our private family estate. I spared absolutely no expense. The catering was Michelin-star quality, the champagne was rare vintage, and the guest list included our entire high-society circle, as well as several prominent members of the local business elite and media.
Lily arrived looking radiant, wearing a designer dress that did a poor job of hiding her smug satisfaction. She was carrying the baby boy she had named Jackson. The moment they entered, Ethan rushed to her side, helping her with the heavy diaper bag and the stroller. His eyes lingered on her with a tenderness and heat he hadn't shown me in years. I caught several guests whispering, noting how incredibly attentive my husband was to my younger sister. They thought it was a beautiful display of family bonding. I knew it was incestuous, treacherous rot.
"Claire, everything is just... breathtaking," Lily gushed, stepping forward to embrace me. She smelled of expensive French perfume—likely bought with the generous allowance Ethan had been secretly siphoning from our joint household account. "Thank you so much for hosting this. I know things have been a bit tense and distant between us lately. I really want us to be close again."
"Nonsense, Lily," I said, raised my voice just enough for a group of influential socialite bloggers standing nearby to hear. "You're my little sister. Family is everything to me. And look at little Jackson... he is absolutely beautiful. You know, it's striking... he looks so much like his father. He has those very distinct, deep dark eyes."
Ethan, who was in the middle of taking a sip of champagne, choked slightly, clearing his throat hastily as a flush of heat crept up his neck. Lily’s warm smile instantly stiffened, her eyes darting nervously to Ethan before returning to me.
"Genetic coincidences are funny like that," Ethan stammered, wrapping a possessive arm around my waist in a pathetic, theatrical display of spousal affection. "But Jackson is an absolute angel. We are all so blessed."
"We certainly are," I murmured, leaning in close to Lily and Ethan, my voice dropping to a whisper that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. "In fact, I've set up a very special, life-changing surprise for you both today. A grand financial gift for the baby. I'll be announcing it during my toast in front of everyone."
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I watched the subtle, victorious glint flash in Lily’s eyes. She glanced at Ethan, a microscopic, triumphant nod passing between them. They thought the trust money had cleared. They thought the forged power of attorney had done its job, and that my "life-changing gift" was the public announcement of a multi-million dollar trust fund for her illegitimate child.
They had absolutely no idea that Naomi Price was currently sitting in a black SUV parked just outside our estate gates, flanked by two forensic investigators and a federal agent specializing in corporate fraud.
