clinic. Each step felt heavier than the last, like I was walking straight into a storm I wasn't ready for. The smell of antiseptic clung to

ow why I wa

t. I knew e

ing like a predator in the dark, ready to poun

or and smoothed a hand over my skirt, forc

lled, calm and professional, but i

oor open and s

as they landed on me. She had the kind of face that made you want to trus

for me to sit. "I'm glad you could come in today. I

thumped p

elf into the chair across from

adjusted her glasses. "Not wron

nt a shiver

aight in the eye. "The results came back from the audit the

y. I gripped the edge o

used for your IVF procedure. The father of

throat like a jagged stone. "What do you mean? I I pick

fault, Elara. There was an error... an administrative oversight during that wee

down my back. "Someo

desk toward me. "The father's identity is... not confidential in this case

live grenade. My fingers trembled as

pped to a medical form. A fam

wline. Those pierci

an B

touch had haunted me for years. Th

the father

snapped the folder shut and s

mistake," I stammered.

le-checked, Elara. Triple-che

ame rushing back dark whiskey, whispered words, a hotel room bathed in golden

no

know?"

that can stay hidden. He's a very high-profile client. When the aud

drained fr

," I muttered, s

oftened with sympathy. "I u

of her office, clutching my handbag

-

sn't enough to clear the fog in my head. My heart pounded as I weaved through the

an B

through my mind

n's f

chest. My little boy, Liam, was at daycare right now, probably coloring or buil

lding a secret too b

me to think

-

I paced the living room, replaying the conversation over and over u

und protecting Liam. Keeping

man with enough influence to bend entire markets to his will

would

iam fr

ay violently. No. I wo

or the first time: no one would ever h

-

coffee table. I snatched it up, desperate for a

wn Nu

. Something in my gut screamed at me to let it go

I said ca

a deep, smooth voice I hadn't heard in

" the m

od ran

that

an B

-

d, trying to sound calm, though

replied, his tone low and d

d hard. "A

t my

eath

ould he al

hat you're talking a

"Don't play dumb, Elara. I had a very inter

ke a vise. He knew

d quickly, "I

n," he interrupted smoothly. "In pers

nig

ough the phone like a blade. "We're goi

the line

my phone clutched to my chest, m

-

'd changed my outfit three times before finally settling on something neutral: a cream blouse,

y door came pr

it to find a man in a black

a Moore?"

" I c

escort you

-

ilently through the city streets, its tinted windows shutting o

a towering glass building, I felt my s

n shaky legs, tilting my head back to take in

old, sleek and intimidating. The ai

. He swiped a keycard, and the doors slid s

hing out of a movie-floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glittering city sk

here

an B

silhouetted against the city lights. He turned slowly

lored to perfection, sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the

ra," he sai

ed hard.

e, each step measu

aze flicking over me like a search

burst out. "I didn'

cuss your excuses later. For now, let's

. "What do

a cold smile. "You'

-

opened, but no sound came out. All I could do wa

y managed, my voic

Elara. I'm not asking. I'm telling you. We're

in years, I felt the gr