ana

straight to Ivan's office, my knu

oring her sputtered protests, and

. He looked up, his expression tight with annoy

up imm

? What

mes anymore. I didn't have the

sk, the screen displaying the photo of

Leo?"

n the room wa

sion didn't crumble. It hardened int

sk?" he asked. His voic

ed, my voice trembling

aning back in his chair as if this were a business negotiati

im a bastard child," I

ood up

and loomed over me, usin

spying on

He was twisting the narrat

this about me. You have a son, Ivan.

rack finally appearing in his composur

a child!

aid, regaining his cool. "But my life

ed for m

away as i

n't you

he said, his tone dripping with condescensio

s so potent I coul

g a secret family," I

opened

in. They had obviously bee

pecific brand of disappointment only a Donovan matr

hysterical, broken sound th

is not how a Donovan wife b

me and Ivan like a shield. "He has taken responsibility. He is a

d the merger,

yes narrowe

The wedding is in two weeks. The invitations are sent. The press is r

?" I cha

h no family and massive student loans can find

Cold. Calculated.

ked a

d at his shoes, then at me, h

"Just let it go. I love

of them. A united fr

f I left now, they would destroy my caree

d to be

. I forced a single, treacher

ed out a sob. "I j

ened instantly. She

my arm with feigned affection. "We wer

whispered, keep

eved. "I'll stay at the penthouse. You

that office with

t I was broken. They thought I was a scar

tor and pressed the

me in the quiet steel box, I

dry. My hands

going to

rn his entire wor