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66He thought he was exposing a fake pregnancy at the altar—until his son’s secret recording revealed a far more dangerous lie. / Chapter 10 / 10

Chapter 10 - Sunday Pancakes and New Beginnings

Sunday morning at the Vance estate smelled of melted butter, vanilla extract, and freshly brewed dark roast coffee.

Sunlight poured through the skylight of the expansive, modern kitchen, illuminating flour dust dancing in the air. At the kitchen island stood Daniel, wearing a flour-dusted apron, skillfully flipping golden-brown pancakes in a cast-iron skillet.

From the corner speakers, a soft jazz melody played, blending seamlessly with the cheerful chatter of a household finally at peace.

Leo sat on a high stool at the counter, carefully stacking fresh strawberries on top of a towering plate of pancakes, drizzling maple syrup in a precise, artistic pattern.

"Dad, you're burning the edges again," Leo teased, pointing a spatula at the pan with a grin.

"That's not burning, son. That's artisanal caramelization," Daniel joked, expertly landing another pancake onto the stack with a flourish.

Leo laughed, shaking his head. "If you say so. But if it tastes like charcoal, you're eating my share of the bacon."

"Deal."

Daniel set the skillet down, untied his apron, and walked around the island. He pulled up a stool right next to his son, picking up a fork and taking a bite of the syrup-soaked stack. He closed his eyes, savoring the sweetness.

"Approval rating?" Leo asked, raising an eyebrow with mock seriousness.

"Ten out of ten," Daniel smiled, wrapping a strong arm around his son's shoulders and pulling him close. "Best chef in the city."

Outside the tall kitchen windows, the autumn wind rustled the golden leaves of the garden trees, while the golden retriever chased a stray butterfly across the manicured lawn. The past months felt like a distant, faded film—a chaotic storm that had tested their foundations to the absolute limit. But looking at Leo’s bright, untroubled eyes, Daniel knew that the shadows had permanently retreated.

They had survived the fake brides, the corporate betrayal, and the darkest secrets hidden behind altar veils. They had emerged on the other side not just intact, but stronger, closer, and completely inseparable.

"So, Dad," Leo asked, wiping a smudge of powdered sugar from his nose with the back of his hand. "What are we building in the robotics workshop this afternoon?"

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At a family dinner, I stood up smiling and announced I was pregnant. The whole table went completely silent — then my mother-in-law suddenly let out a laugh and yelled: “She’s pretending to be pregnant just to milk money from us!” Before anyone could even react, she seized my hand and pushed me off the hotel rooftop to “prove” I was faking it. Broken and barely conscious, I came to in the hospital with my husband by my side, pale as a ghost and shaking. But the moment the doctor stepped in and opened his mouth, the words he said made the entire room freeze in utter disbelief and horror.

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At Christmas dinner, my mother-in-law pushed my plate away and said, “Leave—this table is for people who bring money into this family.” I turned to my husband and asked if he agreed, but his cold silence was the biggest mistake of his life, because two months later, my father’s true net worth destroyed his entire bloodline…

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Daniel smiled, clinking his coffee mug against his son's glass of orange juice.

"Whatever you want, partner. Whatever you want."

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