“No, he’s Laken’s son.”
Gloria narrows her eyes, and as realization blankets her face, a guttural laugh brews deep in her throat and spills out, coating the silence. “Oh, this is almost worth everything.” She shifts a finger between Laken and me. “So, you concocted this story to make me think you were engaged, and you were the one who ended up getting played.”
I can’t hear a word she’s saying. All I can do is concentrate on the tears running down Laken’s face as she hugs Preston to her chest.
“Oh, get over yourself, Niall,” Gloria continues. “Laken has been my nanny for over a year and a half. I had a planned C-section at thirty-six weeks with that boy.” Moving closer against me, a smug smile paints her lips as she leans in close. “I have no stretch marks because of it. Do you want to see?”
“Laken?” Preston asks, tugging on one of Laken’s curls that springs loose from her pinned up hair. “Is Sophie here? Mommy, I’ve had so much fun with Laken and Sophie and Niall.”
With a devious gleam in her eye, Gloria claps her hands together and raises her voice. “Well, isn’t this just special? Everyone, can I have your attention, please? My very own nanny here is engaged to our Niall Mackay.” Cuing the band to return to the stage, she grabs as many champagne flutes off a passing tray as she can hold in two hands. “Maestros? Can we hear a littleHere Comes the Bride? This has turned into an engagement party!”
Handing me a flute of champagne, I freeze, my shock rendering me speechless and immobile as Gloria walks by Laken, who’s clinging to Preston like a life preserver. Taking a long sip, she leans close, speaking low, but there’s no mistaking the words I read on her lips.
“Oh, by the way, you’re fired. Get your shit and get out.”
And just like that, my world ends.
