Page 123 of The Fiancé Hoax

But something about the tense voices coming from the foyer made my stomach tighten. I set the phone down on the kitchen island and walked toward the front door.

Cooper was talking to an older, well-dressed man standing with a briefcase in the doorway. Cooper looked at me as I rounded the corner.

“Felicity, this is my attorney handling the custody case. Nick Worcester, Felicity Hayes.”

I smiled and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nick, let’s talk in my study,” Cooper said. “Felicity, you should come, too.”

Inga popped her head into the hallway. “Want me to take the girls to the park?”

“Good idea,” Cooper said. “Thanks, Inga.”

She went to the living room to get the girls, who cheered at the mention of an outing. They were bouncing off the walls after breakfast.

I followed Cooper into his office, and he held the door open for Nick and me. My shoulders were tense as we all sat around Cooper's desk.

Was it normal for Nick to visit his clients at home the weekend before a trial? I couldn't remember my dad ever making house calls to go over last-minute details with clients. Especially not on a Saturday.

Cooper looked at Nick. “What's the news?”

“It's not looking good, Cooper. As you know, I have a source in Gen's attorney's office. And she told me they have proof your engagement is fake.”

Cooper froze. “What proof?”

“I don't have the details,” Nick said. “All I know is that a witness has been summoned to testify. And there are some pictures.”

“Well, we already know about the pictures,” Cooper said.

I cringed, remembering the private eye spying on me when I wasn't wearing my engagement ring.

“But this is the first I've heard of a witness being called to testify for Gen's side.” Cooper's jaw tightened. “Do you have the name?”

“Ruth Fulton. She’s an employee of Marsh Hayes.”

I gasped. My father's executive assistant?

All at once, I felt sick. And furious.

My father was surely behind this. He must have told Ruth what happened with Cooper and me.

“I thought you said Marsh wasn't going to say anything,” Nick said.

Cooper shook his head, his eyes dark. “That's what he told me.”

“Well, apparently Ms. Fulton is planning to testify that you and Felicity faked the engagement to win the case.”

Cooper leaned back in his seat. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath.

I swallowed. This was bad.

“What do you advise?” Cooper asked Nick.

Nick heaved a sigh. “There's only one option. You'll have to tell the judge the truth before Gen's lawyer drops this bombshell.”

“Fine. Though I doubt Judge Graves is going to take that news well.” Cooper leaned forward to scrub his face with his hands, then looked up at Nick between his fingers. “Do you think we have a shot in hell?”

Nick paused, then lifted his briefcase from the floor to the desk and popped it open. “I have some ideas for your opening statement. Let's discuss them now.”

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