when a sudden, hard shove from b

e. Her fingers scrabbled for purchase, nails scraping hard against the wooden railing as she fought to stop her

hunderous. Liam's lower lip jutted out. "You're bad too,

he stairs, ready

, her gaze flicking down to where Kylee was still crumpled on the steps. "And honestl

re you suggesting I threw myself d

n was a mask of wounded innocence. "I should go check on him." She turned a

nally turned to Kylee. He crouched

wist it? L

aching hand and kicked out, k

theart. Let me see. Liam's still young. He knows you're not his biological mother, so it's only natural he's hitting

er feet, using the move

esting a professional nanny once, a

pany's IPO at such a critical stage, I can't afford any distractions. But Liam is our son, and he's important too. Tessa is family.

been so reaso

mpliment, leaving no

cuses made her

sion," she said flatly, "why are

on her lips as she p

r my collection. It's called 'Derailed,' by an up-an

n lying to her for five years, her first impulse ha

me to her senses.

. He had lied to h

ars of humiliation, playing the dutiful w

global firms, all to stay and resc

dly pulled the company back from th

would go public. Christopher's net wort

as she supposed to just let th

hould

topher, she would take back ev

had no intention of wasting money on something so trivial. Kylee nodded slowly. "You're right. A piece by an emerging artist isn't worth m

furrowing. "This isn't about my willingness to spe

'm telling you. I'm buying it." She

ngle painting was the very least she was owed. A vein throbbe

e. "Whatever my darling wife wants.

e cold, mechanical voice of her banking ap

my account. I'll go to the gallery myself, so

to my account?! And what kind of

idened as he stared at the screen, a mixtu

e account of Kylee. The transaction note

y million dollars. She had just taken nin