y's Long Island estate loomed ahea

inst her stomach. Inside her designer bag sat the signed marriage c

g his biological child, he would never let her go. He would ow

ecurity checkpoints before finally stop

"Miss Nguyen. Mr. Duncan is finishing a call.

e grand halls, her heels clicking against the marble, until

men in black suits stood at the

navy suspenders was running. He was holding a remote control,

was

lking. Her breath c

ing him in person, breathing and moving,

out of control and crashed into the grass, skidding t

slowly bent over and picke

boy stopped runnin

e eyes locked

ld, guarded heir in the photograph. But as he st

control. It hit the g

then another, his wide eyes never leaving her face. He walked slowly, almost cautiously, as if he was afraid she might disappear if he moved too fast. When he fi

ft, uncertain whisper, laced with a h

lia f

r entire nervous system. The designer bag s

e slowly sank to her knees on the gra

ngertips brushed agains

g with thick, heavy tears of pure attachment. He

sically ache. A primal, screaming instinct dee

ps crunched against the

snapped h

He wore a casual black button-down shirt with the

e raised one hand and gave

turned and walked away, disappearing behind

ctively pushed Leo behind her legs, shield

aying?" Cordelia demanded, her voi

ne patio table. His face

a envelope sealed with red

" Justice

hand. She tore the wax seal with her t

he most elite genetic test

ntil her eyes hit the bold concl

ty: Cordelia Nguyen an

rain complet

er lungs. The garden sp

n that hotel room. The doctors at the local hospital told her s

then down at the little b

ve. He was standing r

nd of pure grief and rage r

nd grabbed handfuls of Justice's black shirt.

spilling over her lashes. "You were the man in Veg

ove her hands from his shirt. He stood ther

e envelope and pulled out

g it right in front of

forcing her eyes t

nity: Justice Duncan

nas, but her grief-stricken mind refused to accept it. She didn't stop hitting him

ragged pitch. "You forged this! You're lying to me! If you're not the

rate, terrifying strength of a mother who had been rob

h!" she screamed,

His voice was terrifyingly calm, slicing throu

document began to sink in. The adrenaline of her rage burned out, leaving behind

t. She slipped from his shirt, her knees buckling as

s hand. His small fingers squeezed he

em. He looked like a god observing m

her fallen bag, where the

" Justice said coldly. "What matters is that he is you

oser, his shadow

king onto hers. "Do you still have a r

s eyes of the man standing over her. She was trapped in a paradox she

. She was already