Liv Constantine - The Last Mrs. Parrish

They pulled up to the house and got out of the car.

“Let me ring the bell,” Bella shouted as the two of them ran up to the front door.

“Whatever,” Tallulah answered.

A uniformed man appeared. So they have a butler . She didn’t know why she was surprised.

He opened the door. “You must be Bella and Tallulah. Mrs. Parrish is expecting you.”

Hearing Amber called Mrs. Parrish was jarring, but Daphne walked in behind them, nodding at him.

“Please wait here, and I’ll get madam.”

Moments later, Amber breezed in, holding her new son.

Bella looked up at her and asked, “Where’s my daddy?”

“Bella, don’t you want to meet your little brother, Jackson Junior?” Amber asked as she brought the baby closer.

Bella stared at the child, a pout on her face. “He’s ugly. He’s all wrinkled.”

A look of hatred flashed across Amber’s face, and she turned to Daphne. “Why don’t you teach your children some manners?”

For once, Daphne was grateful for Bella’s bluntness. She gave Amber a cool look and put a hand on Bella’s shoulder. “Darling, don’t be rude.”

“Maybe your father forgot you were coming,” Amber said. “He’s buying toys for baby Jackson. He loves him so much. Do you want me to call and remind him?”

Tallulah looked up at Daphne in horror. Daphne wanted to kill Amber right then and there.

“Maybe we should reschedule the visit—” Daphne started, but Bella stomped her foot and interrupted her.

“No! We haven’t seen Daddy in weeks.”

“Of course you should stay,” Amber said. She turned to her butler. “Edgar, would you take Bella and Tallulah to the drawing room where they can wait for Mr. Parrish? I have things to do.”

“Please stay until Daddy comes,” Tallulah whispered to her mother.

Daphne squeezed Tallulah’s hand and whispered, “Of course I will.”

“Amber.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll wait with the girls. How long do you think he’ll be?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re so overprotective. Suit yourself. I’m sure he’ll be home soon.”

Daphne took both of the girls’ hands in hers, and they followed Edgar to the “drawing room,” where an enormous portrait of Amber, pregnant and naked, was perched on the wall above the marble fireplace. One hand covered her breasts, and the other rested on her pregnant belly. The entire room showcased photos from their wedding, and Daphne realized that Amber wanted them to see it. She’d orchestrated Jackson’s being gone, knowing that Daphne wouldn’t leave the girls until he returned.

“I hate her,” Tallulah announced.

“Come here.” She pulled Tallulah into her arms and whispered, “I know she’s horrible. Try to ignore her and just enjoy your father.”

“Girls!” They looked up to see Jackson come in, and they both ran into his arms.

“I guess that’s my cue.” Daphne stood. “I’ll be back on Sunday to pick them up.”

Jackson wouldn’t even look in her direction, and she watched as the three of them left the room.

She went back to the foyer, and as her hand reached for the doorknob, Amber’s voice rang out.

“Bye, Daph. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your little brats.”

Daphne swung around, glaring at her. “You harm one hair on their heads, and I’ll kill you.”

She laughed. “You’re so dramatic. They’ll be fine. Just don’t be late picking them up. I have naughty plans for my husband. He can’t get enough of me.”

“Enjoy it while you can.”

Her face darkened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Daphne smiled. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Daphne was about to play her trump card. They had been divorced for two months now, and Daphne had already put the millions she walked away with to good use. She had gotten custody of the girls, and Jackson had weekend visitation rights. She was here to change that.

She walked up to Jackson’s assistant’s desk.

“Good morning, Douglas. Is he alone?”

“Yes, but is he expecting you?”

“No, but I’ll only take a moment. Promise.”

“Okay.”

She walked into Jackson’s office.

He looked up, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“Good morning to you too. I have a bit of news that you’ll find most interesting,” she told him as she shut the door and handed him a file.

“What the hell is this?” His face turned white as he scanned the contents. “This can’t be right. I’ve seen her passport.”

“Amber is a missing person. Your wife, Lana, is using her identity. How does it feel to be the one on the other side? She’s nothing but a common con artist.” She laughed. “Makes you wonder if she really wants you or just your money.”

The vein in his temple was pulsating so hard she thought it might break through the skin.

“I don’t understand,” he sputtered, continuing to look the article over.

“It’s quite simple. Amber — I mean Lana — targeted you. She insinuated herself into my life with the express purpose of landing a rich husband. Of course, once I was onto her, she became my golden ticket out.”

“What are you talking about? You knew she and I were together?”

“I orchestrated it. I practically gift-wrapped her for you. The weekend at the lake, I drove you right into her arms. And the reason I couldn’t get pregnant? Well, let’s just say it’s hard to get pregnant when you’re using an IUD.”

His eyes opened wide in surprise. “You played me?”

“I learned from the best.”

“You fuc—”

“Now, now, Jackson. It won’t do to lose your cool.”

His breath was coming faster. “Are you planning on exposing her?”

“That depends on you.”

“What do you want?”

“For you to terminate your parental rights.”

“Are you crazy? I’m not signing away my rights to my children.”

“If you don’t, I’ll go to the police and tell them who she is. They’ll arrest her. Is that the legacy you want for your son? A convict for a mother? He’ll never get into Charterhouse with that kind of background.”

He slammed his fist on the desk. “You bitch!”

Daphne arched an eyebrow, feeling calm in his presence for the first time in years. “If you’re going to start name-calling, I’ll just go ahead and phone the police. Maybe the newspapers too, so they can see your new wife leave the house in handcuffs.”

He took several loud, deep breaths, clenching and unclenching his fists. “How do I know once I sign away my rights you won’t turn her in anyway?”

“You don’t. But you know I’m not like you. I just want to get away from you once and for all. As long as you’re with Amber, I know you’ll leave me alone. That’s all I want. So you’ll sign?”

“What will people think? I can’t have them thinking I’ve abandoned my children,” he said.

She shook her head. “You tell them I wouldn’t grant you the divorce unless you agreed to let me go to California; that I’ve been cheating on you, whatever you want. You’re good at making things up. Paint me as the horrible parent and pretend you come out to see them every chance you get. No one will know.”

“You don’t care how you look?”

“No. That’s your game.” All she cared about was getting her children and herself as far away from him as possible. “You’ll have everything you want. And before you even think of doing anything to stop me, please know that if anything happens to me, all the evidence will be forwarded to Meredith. And I’ve made other contingency plans as well.”

He had no idea what private detective she had used or how many fail-safes she had set up. The detective had all the information, for one, and if anything were to happen to Daphne, he’d go to the police. She’d also told her mother everything and given her copies of Amber’s file.