IV

home, my mind was still echoing wi

ly different worlds. He was born into privilege-the only son of a board member of

degree-one of the most prestigious medical institutions in New York. Later, he spent a year as a visiting researcher at the Cardiac Resea

d

Moving from New Hampshire to New York was nothing more than a

What were the odds that

st z

om

ice pulled me ou

ound her, trying to ease the

she resembled Noah-especially her eyebrows and tho

Dr. Morga

e. I fell silent for a moment

stroking her cheek. Then I noticed how thin she

hink he's your da

bag and showed me a picture of

r," she said, pointing at the phot

new exactly what she wanted-to hear me confirm that the doc

either. Remembering how Noah had hurt me in the past, I could

arefully. "I've told you befo

me back from abroad and started workin

ruffled her hair. "Dr. Morgan isn't your dad. If he were, he wou

he said

nt on her face w

you the truth. I don't want you to k

ide, like a dull knife carving into flesh. And

I have. I will do my best to fill the place he left empt

lyn until we reached our building. We lived in Dyker Heights-a relatively quiet neighb

the apartment next do

own in the neighborhood for it. The duplex we rented belonged

handed her the maintenance medication I'd picked up at the

go?" Margaret asked a

iving room. After school, Hannah usually stayed at Margaret's

h needs surgery as soon as possible. We can't dela

some savings. A decent amount. I believe i

t take it, Margaret. You've already helped us so much. Just

t money should be her emergency fund, in case something happened to her. If I took it and something

pressing the card into my hand. "You can pay me back mon

she added. "You're my daughter-in-

mil

nce been her daugh

ny. He was one of my clients, and after working on a project together

down a position as marketing director at the company's U

dying wish was to

asn't enough to cover Hannah's medical bills and childca

wish, and in return, he would give me fifty thousand do

cce

ly. And fifty thousand dollars was no small sum

ew. We kept it as secret as possible,

t there was nothing she could do. She knew her son

o the UK. The position he had once turned down was offered to him again. With his father gone, there was

ond grew even closer. She offered to look after Hannah while I worked, saving me th

I've got a big deal about to close. Once I land it,

orning, I w

unt manager at Brightwave Media. I had originally wanted to become a copywriter-my strengths leaned more toward creativity-but I ultim

ne of the copywriters,

t said her boss wants to see

lle wanted me to review the final proposal we

the campaign proposal for Mere & Line's Everyday Luxury collection

aterials several t

lly the best your te

I forced a polite smile. "

lking high-end fashion. The campaign has to be eye-catching-

turing to the brand-log

ing myself not to offend her

elle," I said calmly. "But tha

te is minimalism and understated elegance-quiet

uxury has to be aspirational. If it's too subtle, people get bored

definition of luxury differed from the client's. I needed her to unde

I suggested. "One as it is, and o

I could ensure the

ine. We'll submit both. I'm confid

ther smile.

e, I immediately gathered my team an

Jessica exclaime

yone just because she's creative director. Everyo

etent," Sophia muttered. "Otherwise

ner's son. As Sophia said, Matthew was

work, and I got home late that night. My

ed showering when

message f

l event in the Lower East Side a

ning firm, specializing in launches and private dinners for real estate developers and luxury brand

at her ne

ach you and wants to invite you to

row

ll four years of college. Even when the thing between Noah an

"What did y

didn't know wh

ridiculous rumor

ck with a

them think

out of her, no one remembered she existed. From the moment I decided to change my nam

the only

had a way with words-always knowing how to calm someone on the brink of emotional collapse. We were e

ah's going to be there. William even sa

hear her tone-ligh

't recognize me. I

er the screen for a m

not g

pillow, letting that one sentence-'I doubt he'd

ared whether he

do exactly what he had done seven years ago-den