His Secret Family, My Public Shame

ct boarding school for framing me for a political crime. I played the part of the perfect dau

niversary, I saw her laughing in a park with

r, a political shield to protect their secret family. Every family dinner,

"reflection," was secretly using family money to fund t

m. The scandal she framed me for was real, and my own father was involved. T

e a "plain social worker," a fo

to the evening's presentation. As the lights dimmed, a photo of my fiancé's

pte

ra

punished in a strict European boarding school for her crimes; today,

anniversary of my engagement to Liam, the brilliant, compassio

apel of his suit as we stood in the grand foyer of my parents'

rve of his lips that still made my heart

ven me, a name that belonged to a life of foster care and social work. Lynn Winters wa

rls gleaming. "The reservation is for eig

leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. "I know we don't t

y father cleared his throat from across t

proach. "We agreed it was for the best. She needs to reflect on what she did. The scho

olitical documents, an act that nearly destroyed his career a

ly. "It's just... five

is right. Sera is paying for her mistake

It had always worked before. But today, a small, cold knot formed i

ly. **I just need a minute before we go. A littl

ad, I went to the small, manicured park that overlooked the river, a place Liam and I used to walk. I just need

when I

unmistakable fiery red hair. She was laughing, her head thrown back in genuine joy. Kneeling

four years old. He had Liam's dark,

nesthesia. The world tilted, the sounds of the city fading into a dull roar in my

is voice filled with a playful affection I had never

looked at Liam, her eyes soft with a deep, abiding love that I had only ever pretended to

e. "I just need you to be patient a little longer. Once Lynn and I are married

nymore; it was shattering. The last five years of my life-the family dinners, the public appearances, the wed

grip the rough bark of a tree to keep from collapsin

rk. For a terrifying second, I thought he saw me

e scene of that perfect, happy family that had been built on the ruins of

he passenger seat. A

ng? Liam is getting worrie

, pushing through the hysteria. My fing

someone who looked like Seraph

it

again, vibrating violently in my hand. The name flashing

as L