V

cry. I'd just gotten him down for his nap, and now he was

uncing Eli on my hip as I walk

g continued, aggressive and demanding. I looked

in my hallway, his

e door. "Mr. Blackwood? What ar

apartment, his expensive suit looking completely

on't unde

d steel. "Don't pretend yo

rms. Those gray eyes, so much like his father's studie

sn't he?" Lia

o deny it, to lie, to protect my son from this moment. But

you're talking ab

e was matter-of-fact, but I caught the slight tremor in it. "You told

He remembered. After all

ed to sound surprised

way until I hit the wall. "The question is, why didn

words exploded out of me. "You never tol

ding my child from

my shoulder. "You don't understand. I had nothing. I was homeless, pregn

a patern

e like a physic

want legal proo

onger than I felt. "No, I w

agree to the test, or I'll take this to court. And believe me,

an't j

quiet. "I'm a billionaire, Ava. I own half this

does it matter now? You've been

e cracked. "Do you think I would have left you to struggle alone if

you are," I said, my voice brea

ing flicker in his eyes, hurt, maybe, or regret. Bu

id, heading for the door. "And Ava? Don't

aving me alone with my crying s

me with a sympathetic look that made everything worse. I was ordered to

figure out what to do. Every scenario I imagined ended the same way, with L

uez said, his usual kind demeanor

's wr

p. Effective immedia

"Doubling? But that's no

tes." He wouldn't meet my eyes. "I'm sorry, b

I've been a good tenant.

s." He handed me a n

ing me, forcing me into a corner where I'd

t bring it down. I had to take him to the emergency room,

r explained. "Pretty severe. He'll n

cost?" I asked, my v

eart stop. Even with the payment plan the

nd finally broke down. I couldn't do this anymore. I couldn't

I called the number

said when someone answer

, the medication starting to work. I tucked him into his crib

to the sound of my apartment door closing. I sat up, my heart pounding

and froze in the doorw

saw him, he was on the floor beside the crib, st

omething white on his pillow. A

ned it and read the words t

iam Blackwood or