gover and groggy, but he agreed immediately. Anything to please his pregnant wif

me drive you," he sai

You should rest," I said, my voice

sly kept. It never felt like my home, not after my mother died and

her, Mrs. Evans, opened the doo

What a s

led up on the sofa, looking pale and delicate. Liam was sitting next to he

sk of shock. "Olivia! I... I was just che

am, but he insisted on coming." She held up her wrist, showing off a delicate diamond brace

s enjoying this, flaunting her power

vans, came downstairs. His

oing here? You can see y

concern was for her. It

y family," I sai

are you, stressing her out like this? Look at you, with that ridiculous haircut

d, ignoring his tirade. "Mom' s old paintings. They'

. Her art was the only

Daddy, you promised those to me! You said

y' re for Chloe. Olivia, you have no use for the

ld later destroy, were once my life. I had stopped painting afte

I said, my voice low and dan

ed. "I am your father! You wil

rm. "Olivia, calm down. It' s just some old paintings

ixed on Chloe, a silent apology for my be

three of them-my biased father, my manipulative st

ldn' t help me. I needed to be sm

I' m just emotional because of the pregnancy." I looked at my f

smug, triumphant smile. Liam looked relieved.

" I said. "I have s

e. I needed to put the next part of my plan into action. As I walk

pened a new account under a variation of my mother' s maiden name. Over the next

a small, quiet town in Italy, a place known for its art and

ul, but it had also been clarifying. It solidified my resolve. They thought I was

to the nursery we had prepared. It was painted a soft yellow, wit

or being at Chloe' s. "She just needed a f

press his ear to my fake belly and talk to the child that w

s. Each lie he told, each fake smile I

loe called me. Her v

ave the most wonderful