My Empire, My Son, My New Love

vered by a grim-faced assistant just after midnight. My hands shook as I held the sealed envelope. Kane s

e my eyes, then slammed into me with the force o

y mind went blank. T

mistake. It has to be." I looked at Kane, pleading, searc

Kane," I insisted, my

ndages. "See? I told you! She' s been cheating on you, Kane. All this time

lare. "That' s enough, Cristy.

Kane,

nched, her smirk faltering, and she retreated to the corner of the room, h

fening, suffocating. My fingers t

in this, Anastasia. Explain how a child I believed was m

t know. This isn' t right. I haven' t... I never..." Words fai

his is a lab error. We had a private, reputable lab condu

stare at the impossible results. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "

ly, Anastasia. You' ve been waiting for this, haven' t you? To walk away, to leave me with this... this shame.

y head, tears welling in my eyes. "I...

arm, almost painfully, as if trying to force the truth out of me. Then, just as I felt myself

had your secret, I had mine. We' re even. So we stay married. I' ll r

d reeled, unable to process his pronouncement. His scent, the sterile smell of the hospital, min

, the acrid smell of nicotine seeping into the air. He left abruptly just before da

but my mind sharp. I knew instinctively that the paternity test was wrong. I knew I h

ing for me. This paternity test." I handed him the crumpled document. "Find

ace serious, and l

ly knew, rushed into the room, her face pale with al

. "Marks? What

ought possible. My son lay in his crib, his tiny arms and leg

ood running cold. I immediately called for t

ith concern. He examined my son carefully. "These are... f

entle woman, terrified of me. She wouldn' t do this. My gaze darted t

t left the house yet. "Bring me the security

nto the nursery while Liam was collecting the paternity test results. She leaned over the crib, her hands reaching for my sleeping c

, pinching my baby, a cruel smile on her lips. She had done this. While I was f

the grief, all the betrayal, all the pa

nd dangerous, each word laced with ven

eyes wide with terror. She tried to maintain her defiant facade. "You thin

y palm against her cheek echoed through the silent room. Her head

pt. "You think you' re clever, don' t you? Manipulating a paternity test, h

. He picked up on the second ring, his voice

ic whimper, trying to appear vulnerable. "

and pointed, pressed down on her cheek, just

u can call out to your knight in shining armor? He' s not here f

d from Cristy' s throat filled the