O

oned your

in this lifetime. Only six years ago, I lear

secretary delivers an envelope to me, wa

to shake nervously as I bring ou

as I could barely understand the medica

of my throat; I beg

the

office; he answers

e about this

es. "We're one hundred percent sure tha

suddenly grows thinner. "Hypothetically, what

then a

ve naturally." Dr. Meyers says. "By the way, we'd really appreci

eiver down, cu

e, and a smile slits through

kiest guy i

, remembering the s

I whisper

heck into that hotel with Geneviev

tened my

isks and keeping control; it's how I becam

n wouldn't

nt, and Gwen stares at me nervousl

nose ring, but Gwen was fair and

tirs inside me. God, the way she tried t

y I actually liked

g?" Gwen eyes the three men sittin

yers,"

dining stool she sits on. "I don't understan

ds before taking on a liability," I say

s her eyes.

million

ka

to disappear from this city and go back t

her mouth drops open. Twelve million was barel

eel a dread that she's goin

lsea!" she explains, then presses her lips together. "I

thing with women; you offer them a t

n't any

sappoi

daft?"

wn. "

er throat. "Did your mom perhaps drop

d I glare at one of my l

etend you didn't

vultures think yo

, I see. Twe

lars?" She glares at me. "Yo

living room. "Your sister had me with the baby. You must be quite exhausted from lo

gestion; I wonder if I'

baby's life for m

ogacy or adoption? There's always a fee involved

irmly, I can tell I've struck a nerve, and

"Your son's name is Mikey, as in Michael. You didn't e

willingly accepts the baby of the woman who stol

und with his family's heirloo

e of my lawyers suggests

I could take you to court a

ib, and thankfully, it doesn't

you doin

i, a proud billionaire tycoon from an alleged traditional family, sudd

"Oh man, the media is definitely going to bury you alive. You

hear a female voice on the other

two quick strides, I snatc

f your mind?"

listen to my ter

* *

staring at her tablet. "This headline says rumor has it that a powerful New York dynasty is hiding

st, I reply, "Mom, I told you

sh anything if it's not true," Diana growls.

deep echo. "Becaus

e to pull my gaze away, and I drag

me to find

the thief and the mother o

tody with the DNA report; it's going to go public and break into a scandal. Gwen has made it cle

. "Let me think abou

, this time at a restaurant for dinne

y million either, T

very noble, but have you considered t

er food. "No. If she were, I would probably f

ke months or years because she took a huge gamble on s

me glossy with tears that did not

t your safety, or Michael's, in the biggest crime city in the country? He

bluffing, she closes her eyes,

eel elated at my triumph. A Ciccotel

venly, "In exchange for security, I won't even charge your sister unl