Chapter 20 - THE BABY’S REAL FATHERCambria gave birth to a healthy daughter six months later.
Name:
Eloise Sloane Mercer.
Julian was present.
Dorian was not.
Correct.
Arielle learned through Natalie, who heard through legal circles.
She felt unexpected relief.
Not because baby wasn’t Dorian’s.
That was already known.
Because child arrived healthy after being used as weapon before birth.
Arielle hoped adults would stop making her symbol.
Julian established joint parenting arrangement but did not reunite romantically.
Cambria had apparently assumed birth might change him.
It did not.
Fatherhood did.
Relationship did not.
Dorian sent gift anonymously? Would that be weird. Better no contact. He respected boundaries.
Cambria contacted Dorian two weeks after birth.
She looks like you sometimes.
Despite tests.
Dorian did not respond.
Then:
Do you ever think what our life could have been?
No response.
Finally:
Arielle will never forgive you. I would.
Dorian blocked.
Not because he hated her.
Because boundaries.
He sent records to attorney in case contact escalated.
Growth.
Arielle heard about it months later.
Did not reward.
But noticed.
Then Julian contacted Arielle once.
Not to discuss Cambria.
To apologize.
“I knew Dorian was married to you.”
“You knew Cambria had history with him.”
“I still participated.”
“Why apologize to me?”
“Because my choices helped create environment that hurt you.”
Arielle nodded.
“Thank you.”
That was all.
Julian apologized to Natalie separately.
She did not reconcile.
No woman rescued betrayer because he became remorseful.
Actions had consequences.
Then a final paternity twist? We already have Julian confirmed. Maybe Cambria initially knew? Could discover she knew likely Julian because doctor estimated date and she lied. Natalie had messages. We can establish legal deposition revealed Cambria knew Julian more likely.
During defamation settlement discovery, Cambria admitted under oath:
Before telling Dorian, her doctor had given estimated conception window.
She knew June encounter with Dorian was outside likely window.
She still told him “almost certain.”
Why?
Cambria’s answer:
“I hoped dates were wrong.”
Attorney:
“Because you wanted Dorian to be father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Silence.
Then:
“Because I thought he would finally choose me.”
There.
Pregnancy claim not mistaken only.
Wishful manipulation.
Arielle read transcript.
No triumph.
Only sadness.
Cambria tried to force love through consequence.
Again.
You cannot manufacture heart.
Arielle remembered own gala line:
“You may have gotten one night, but you’ll never have his heart.”
At time it was insult.
Now it felt prophecy.
But Arielle also realized something.
Dorian’s heart had not protected her.
He loved her and cheated.
Love alone was insufficient.
That became final emotional theme.
What matters is behavior.
Loyalty.
Truth.
Boundaries.
Arielle began therapy too.
Not because broken.
Because she wanted understand whether staying married would be strength or fear.
Was she considering Dorian because she loved him?
Because history?
Because public expectation?
Because divorce felt like Cambria won?
That last thought disgusted her.
She refused to let Cambria influence either direction.
If she divorced, not because Cambria.
If she stayed, not despite Cambria.
Decision had to belong to Arielle.
So she waited.
Dorian respected.
And for first time, their marriage was not a triangle.
May you like
Cambria existed outside it.
Exactly where she should have been from beginning.
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