ROBERT
(unedited)

I looked out the window and watched as the city lights slowly faded. In their place, tall trees flashed past us as we drove down the silent road. We were only thirty minutes from the Big Apple, but everything seemed more serene in this part of town. Even at this early hour, the city would be buzzing with noise, but here, everything was quiet—I hated the quiet. I hated everything about this place. It was where I had lost Eleanor. I vowed never to come back here again. Why was I here, then? I should have been home with my wife, telling her how my trip went and how I found a doctor who could help us, yet I found myself miles away from our home. All because of the nagging suspicion that hadn't left since my encounter with Eleanor and that little girl. While she tried to feign a confident face, the look in her eyes told me a different story that day.

I saw the hesitation in Eleanor's eyes as she stared back and forth between that little girl and me. I did not care that she had confidently assured Ethan was that child's father because the girl's baby blue eyes and dark hair told a different story. I could not put the thought to rest until I knew for sure. And there was only one other person who knew the truth.

"We are here, sir," my driver, Dominic, stated. The car had stopped in front of a tall gate. "Shall I press the button?"

I looked at the intercom Dominic was referring to. Of course, they had such things.

"Yes, press it," I replied with some annoyance.

Dominic rolled down the window and reached over to press the button. The loud doorbell rang like church bells at noon. If the mansion's occupants hadn't been awake before, the doorbell surely would do the trick.

"Name, please?" A groggy male voice said through the intercom.

"Robert Davis," I answered from the backseat.

It took a few seconds before we heard a buzz, and large gates opened. Dominic followed the gravel road that arched around a tall fountain. He parked the car in front of the stone stairs.

"Would you like me to accompany you inside, sir?"

I shook my head. "I should not be long."

I stepped out of the car and walked up the stone stairs. The butler opened the door before I could even knock. He looked half-awake, but his uniform was nice and tidy.

"How can we help you, Mr. Davis?" The butler asked with a hint of annoyance. It was clear my early arrival had disturbed his sleep.

"I am here to see Lady Katie," I replied. "Could you please tell her it is urgent?"

"Lady Katie and Master Fredrick are still sleeping. I can't possibly interrupt their slumber at this early hour," the butler responded firmly. "Could you please return at a more appropriate hour?"

The butler was about to close the door, but I reached my hand out and stopped him. The matter could not wait for a more appropriate time.

"Tell her it has to do with Eleanor," I urged.

With only the mention of Eleanor's name, the butler's annoyance had vanished, and a sense of urgency replaced it.

"You should have told me the news involved Duchess Eleanor," the butler said as he allowed me inside. Duchess Eleanor? Had Eleanor married that bastard after all? "I will let Lady Katie know you are here."

The butler scurried up the stairs, leaving me alone in the foyer. It took a few minutes before the woman I wanted to see appeared, dressed in a long, satin gown and matching black robe. Next to her was my best friend, Fred. They both looked half-awake.

"What are you doing here so early?" Fredrick asked before he let out a long yawn. "I thought we were supposed to meet at the bar later today."

"I came to speak with your fiance," I replied as I turned to look at Katie.

"Alfred told me it had something to do with Ellie," Katie replied as she walked down the remaining stairs. "Let's head to the lounge and talk there. Alfred, please awaken the maids and have them prepare some tea."

Alfred, the butler, nodded and obediently walked away to do his task. Katie motioned me to follow her down the hallway. We stopped when we reached a large living room adorned with Victorian-styled furniture. We all took a seat near the fireplace.

"Tell me, what is it you need to know?" Katie asked.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. There were a lot of things I wanted to know. How did she know Eleanor? Did Eleanor marry Ethan? Was the girl I saw Ethan's daughter?

"Wait," Fredrick looked between Katie and me. "Why would you think Katie knows anything about Eleanor? Katie never even met Eleanor."

"Maybe so," I said calmly. "But Katie knows Ethan."

"What does Ethan have to do with this?" Fredrick looked more confused. I could not blame him, though. No one knew why Eleanor and I had split besides my family.

"The reason Eleanor and I divorced was because I discovered she was having an affair with Ethan Maxwell. She left with him the night you introduced me to him," I explained, and Katie was quick to slam her hands on the couch.

"That is a lie!" She exclaimed, causing me to frown. "Eleanor would never do such a thing!"

Why was she defending Eleanor? She hardly knew my ex-wife.

"Is that what Ethan told you?" I asked with a sassy tone.

Katie looked at me with a deadly glare. "You are such an idiot, Mr. Davis," she muttered.

"You are right. I am an idiot. I believed my wife was loyal all the while she was screwing that English prince."

"Eleanor did wrong by one person, but it certainly wasn't you," Katie replied. "You think Eleanor would cheat on you after all she gave up to marry you?"

All she gave up?

"What are you talking about? Eleanor had nothing before I married her. She was an orphan with not even a penny to her name," I replied.

"That's what she made you believe." Katie walked over to the fireplace and picked up one of the photos decorating the mantle. She handed me the frame.

I looked down at the picture inside the clear glass. There were three familiar faces in the photo. Katie, Ethan. . .and Eleanor. All three had bright smiles as they showed off their preparatory diplomas. Eleanor looked so young and full of life.

"Eleanor was not just some ordinary girl, Robert. She was the daughter of Viscount Hastings and the Duchess of Veneto. The heir to the Veneto duchy."

No, that could not be true. Eleanor would have told me.

"What?!" Fredrick was also surprised by the news.

"Eleanor was betrothed to Ethan when she came here for her studies. Then she met you, and she fell head over heels for you. It was clear to Ethan that Eleanor was in love with you, so he broke off their long-life engagement for her happiness. Ethan was the one who Eleanor failed, not you."

Katie's words were like being showered with a cold bucket of water. I gripped my knuckles tightly as I processed the information. All this time, I thought Eleanor had married me because of my money. No woman in her right mind would accept a loveless marriage if there were no money involved. But Eleanor had agreed to my terms, and it was because she loved me. My eyes swelled with tears at the realization.

"Eleanor loved you so much that she gave up her title as Duchess to marry you. She left all she knew behind for you," Katie added.

"Why did she leave me then?" I croaked. "I know I was not the best husband to her, but I never hurt her. Our marriage had worked for three years. Why did she leave suddenly when that bastard showed up?"

"I-I don't know," Katie replied. "All I remember was Ethan telling me to shut down the ball. He told me Eleanor had called, saying she needed Ethan's help. Neither of them ever told me what happened that made Eleanor want to divorce you and leave New York for good."

What could I have done to drive Eleanor away? Was it my cold demeanor? Had I not paid enough attention to her? The questions were eating me up, but I pushed them aside. I had strayed away from the real reason I had come to speak with Katie.

"Did Eleanor marry Ethan after our divorce?" I asked, praying that Katie's answer would confirm my suspicions.

Katie looked confused by my question at first. Realization seemed to dawn on her, and she hesitantly shrugged.

"I-I don't know," she nervously replied. "I h-haven't spoken to either of them."

Katie fidgeted with her engagement ring and avoided my gaze. I could tell she was lying. She knew about Eleanor's daughter—my daughter.

"Thank you for your time, Katie," I said as I stood up. "I appreciate your honesty."

"Wait!" Katie jumped up before I could reach the door frame. I stopped and smiled, knowing I'd get a clear answer now. "You saw her, didn't you? You saw Emma?"

Emma. So, that was her name? I turned around and mustered all my courage. I also had to be honest if I wanted to know the truth.

"Katie, I know you may think I am an idiot. Maybe you are right. But I did love my wife." It felt good to say it out loud. "I love Eleanor. I would have never let her leave if I had known the truth. I would have fought for her and fixed whatever I did to drive her away. So please, be honest. I-Is Emma m-my daughter?"

Katie looked at the ground and nodded. "Eleanor was pregnant with Emma when she left New York. She made me promise not to tell you or Fred."

"Kat, why would you do that? Robert deserved to know he had a daughter." Fred looked at his fiancé with disappointment.

"Eleanor was never one to make rash decisions. Whatever it was that you did broke her, Robert. It broke her so badly that she would rather raise Emma as a single mother than have you in the picture. Even now, you had to come to me to know the truth. That tells me she doesn't want you in the picture. So, I am not sorry for not telling you because Eleanor deserves better."

"I do not care for an apology," I snapped back. "All I needed to know was if that little girl was mine. Now that I know she is, I am going to London to get my daughter back."

"Eleanor won't let you take Emma away from her," Katie warned.

I turned around with a smirk. "Who said I was taking Emma away from her mother? I'm bringing my wife back as well."

Word Count: 1859

Author's Note: Eek! Robert finally found out that Emma is his daughter! What do you think will happen next? How will Elle react? Any fans hoping they get back together, or should Elle stay with Ethan? Let me know what you think in the comments down below. Next update will be next Friday. I am hoping to start updating twice a week starting February. I have a whole line of books that I am hoping to post. Thank you all so much. See you soon!