The Substitute Wife's Secret Heir

n island of quiet elegance. For Elaina

erpiece on the table, a traditional gift for a third anniver

ened for the tenth time. An ultrasound report. Gestation: 6 weeks.

se she hoped would finally bridge the distance that had grown between th

oor o

n his custom-tailored suit. But the look on his face

to rise, to greet him, but then she s

e Hen

d her once, about a love lost to trage

t plummeted, a dead weight in her

e her look ethereal, stepped forward. Her smile

so long. I hope I'm

familiar, expensive cologne filling the air, and place

lack letters, read: D

agreement was highlighted in

ing, the entire room seemed to blur at

leazar... it's o

ny emotion she recognized. "My condition has resolv

plagued him three years ago. The reason he'd sou

into the crook of his arm. "Eleazar just doesn't want

hat one sentence. It wasn't that the sickness was gone. It was that th

fists. Her nails dug into her palms, the sharp,

allie, directly at the man she had

ree years... it was all jus

n the far wall. His voice was flat, transactional. "Th

t funny. How do you compensate someone for a love th

all down-the secret, the tears,

y as she reached for the folder

to have thi

ce. He thought she was going to negot

pity. "Elaina, let's not make this more difficult th

. "My attorney will be in contact with yours. Now, if you

her for a long moment, a flicker of something-co

tly on his sleeve

le look, then turned and walked o

ng door was the sound

that tore through her. A single tear fell onto t

. She found the email from her doctor, the one

slowly, painfully, cooled and hardened into something else. Something c

ct. And this secret was one