soft lighting, hushed conversations. Chloe and Julian were already there, seated at a

r coming," Chloe

t. I placed my phone on the table, screen down. I had an

"I know this is a shock. But we need to be adults about this. Chloe an

at him, lett

ok from his jacket. "To help you with your... transition. Let' s

he check across the table. "Consi

ound. "You think you can bu

ghtening. "More than fair. It' s more than a Tex

id nothing. She was

I asked, my voice low and st

Can' t have children. This baby will be my heir, a secret I can reveal when the time is

elty it stole my breath. He was not ju

a voice said f

ed slowly, his face d

ke refrigerators. She was even more imposing in person. She wore a black

up, but one of the security guys put a heavy han

but carrying across the restaurant, which had fallen sil

look of pure contempt on her face. An

usly soft. She took a step closer, and Julian