the door i

know? I'd been so careful. Used my maiden name at the doctor's offi

voice was calm, controlled. The s

aw

to talk a

kick. She always kicked when I was stressed, like she could sense my anxiety. "Th

I knew you were c

ared about being a father, but because Julian Ashford never left loose ends

d foreign in his mouth. Julian didn't

ed. But that would only delay the inevitable. He knew now, a

ed the

is three-piece suit. His eyes went immediately to my stomach, and

. "But make it quick. I have a d

ng room with furniture from IKEA, the kitchenette barely big enough for one person, the

e due date

the only comfortable spot in the apartment. I wasn't of

tanding. "Why did

rs during a conference call, Julian. You couldn't even put down your phone long enough to

right t

d blinked them away. I'd cried enough over Julian Ashford. "You d

thinking, strategizing. This was what he did b

want?" he f

you to

al expenses covered? I'll set up a trus

ords I'd said eight months ago. "I ha

cted. "Legally, this

m behind the careful facade. Everything was

I asked. "You want to claim

tened. "That

I cooked dinners you never ate. I planned trips you never took. I tried so hard to matter to you,

asn't a goo

in the same house." I stood, my anger giving me strength. "And now you w

er died," he

c threw me. "I'm s

e controlling shares of Ashford Industries go

. The real reaso

is about," I said q

complicated

it. The hope that maybe, somehow, he was here because he wanted to be a father. Because he cared. "You're here

ad

by inherits controlling shares, what's the dollar amount? Beca

t what thi

close enough to see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes. "Tell me

it. Couldn't find the word

thought," I s

stead. "Fifty-fifty. And I want a p

lutel

went cold, the businessman returning. "You can fight it, but you'll lose. I have r

an I'd married, and fel

a threat?

coffee table. "Call me when you're ready to be reasonable. We

o the door,

aid without turning around,