ya. Are they not letti

iping Leo's brow. Clara stands in the doorway, holding a ludicrously oversized

chair, is instantly on his feet, a sil

ce is flat. All my emotion is res

" She places the flowers on the windowsill, an act o

othing to

with a pitying look. "I think we need to understand eac

s me. "Is that what

path completely. She finally acknowledges him with a flick

e not wanted, I see," he repli

're so angry with? The provider in that lovely house? The career he has? That's me, Maya. Every brick, every payche

hey find armor I didn't know I'd grown. "You're he

hat matters. He has been for years. You were the temporary caretaker of a life I built for him.

You have a child with him. I know that. Do you think that's a winning argument? That you're the w

rs for a second. "

I know whose hospital bed he's been too busy to sit at. You can have the prize, Clara. H

ou're forgetting something, Clara. Last I checked, you're married. Or did your h

us is not her business. Or yours. This is between me

an obstacle. I'm the ex-wife you're go

u might be emotional. Daniel always said you were... sentimental." She pulls out a sin

take it. "W

ds with a soft, heavy thud. The window on the front faces up. I see Liam's full nam

TEST ORDER & INITI

orld

his face. It's not confusion I see. It's recogn

tion is a whisper, dire

rk, Maya. Your loyal knight here has a few secrets of his own. A child, from what I understand. A l

l is too precise, too devastating. A secret chil

llow, stripped of its usual certainty. He's loo

ut it through my father's legal team. Thought you should be served properly. Wo

erent versions of the same betrayal. Daniel is mine. And your consolation prize?" She nods toward Liam, who

's

s steady monitor and the ragged sound of my own breathing. I look

ooks utterly broken. He finally meets my ey

," he

A plea. A con

ust been served a paternity suit in my son's hospital room. Cl

ain. But this time, L