Chapter 7 - THE BABY SHOWER WARNING
Madeline’s baby shower was held in the mansion garden.
White roses covered the tables. Her friends brought tiny dresses, books, and blankets embroidered with the name Madeline had chosen privately.
Grace.
Jason spent most of the afternoon taking photographs with donors and executives.
Chelsea arrived without an invitation.
She wore white.
In her hand was a silver gift box containing a baby rattle.
“There’s no card,” Madeline said.
Chelsea smiled.
“Jason knows who it’s from.”
Madeline’s closest friend, Elena, noticed the tension and offered to ask Chelsea to leave.
Jason intervened.
“She’s part of the company. Don’t embarrass her.”
It was Madeline’s celebration, but Jason protected Chelsea.
During the toast, Chelsea lifted her glass.
“To new beginnings,” she said, looking directly at Madeline. “Even when old arrangements have to end.”
The garden became silent.
Jason laughed too loudly and claimed Chelsea had made a terrible joke.
That evening, Madeline found the silver rattle unopened on the floor of the nursery.
Inside the box was a second item.
A cuff link engraved with the initials J.R. and C.V.
On the back was a date from five years earlier.
Madeline searched through old social media photographs.
Chelsea had deleted most of them, but one remained archived on a former classmate’s account.
It showed Jason and Chelsea at a New Year’s party.
They were kissing beneath a banner.
The photograph had been taken eighteen months before Madeline met Jason.
That alone did not prove an affair.
But a comment beneath it chilled her.
Finally engaged! About time!
Madeline enlarged Chelsea’s left hand.
There was a ring on it.
Jason had not merely dated Chelsea.
He had promised to marry her.
Madeline sent the photograph to Rebecca Sloan and asked for an urgent meeting.
Before Rebecca replied, Jason entered the nursery.
He saw the cuff link in Madeline’s hand.
His face went still.
“Where did you get that?”
Madeline realized he was not surprised she had discovered the truth.
May you like
He was afraid of what else she might discover.
👉 Jason finally admitted Chelsea had once been his fiancée—but his explanation raised a far more dangerous question.
