“Mommy, the lady was biting the uncle really hard.”
I had laughed it off at the time, assuming she had seen dogs playing or teenagers kissing. I didn’t press. Kids have wild imaginations, especially at four.
I never imagined it was Vanessa and Marcus Thompson.
---
Back at the birthday party, chaos unfolded beautifully.
Richard’s voice cut through the music like a blade. “Turn off the music.”
The band stopped.
He looked at Vanessa with an expression I never want to see directed at me. “Is this true?”
Vanessa’s mask cracked. “Richard, please. Not here. Let’s go inside and talk—”
“Answer the question.”
Thompson tried to intervene. “Rich, it was nothing. Just a stupid mistake—”
Richard’s security team appeared as if summoned by telepathy. Two large men escorted both Vanessa and Thompson toward the house. Guests whispered furiously. Some started gathering their things to leave. Others stayed, hungry for the drama.
Jamal pulled me and May aside, his face a mixture of shock and worry. “This could ruin everything,” he whispered. “Richard might blame me for bringing her here.”
I squeezed his hand. “Or this could be the moment everything changes.”
