her fear turning to anger.

sly quiet level. "Your 'one-night stand' was two years ago. The math doesn't

e I had clung to for two years, fell apart with that one simple fact.

to her. "Was it really just one tim

ce was louder than any confession. It was the sound of her world co

my a

n the photos, on the life

ver my shoulder as I walked to the door.

my studio and

. Letting go would mean admitting defeat, and Olivia nev

ivia isn't well. She collapsed. The stress is too much for her. We'r

numbers. But a small, stupid part of me, the part that still remembered the wom

s a m

htmare. Olivia was sitting on a couch in the grand living room, looking perfectly

ir across from Olivia wa

s an

th condescension. He gestured to an empty chair, as if this were a

s nothing to discuss. Olivia

ice sharp. "This family has a reputation, a legacy.

uring towards Leo. "He's the scandal. The affair

a shamed man, but I could see the smirk

our duty. You and Olivia agreed to be child-free. Your choice, as I recall. You denied this family an

ey were twisting her betrayal into my fai

shaking my head. "You ca

t the baby, "is the future of this family. He will be raised as a Hayes. And you, Ethan, will be his father. You will accept h

were now laying out the terms of my surrender. They wanted me to live inside the lie, to raise the child of my wife's affair as my