The Daughter Who Wasn't Mine

tmare co

irm. His partners were congratulati

here, beautifu

you. Your stability, your love. We can

anting, now sounded lik

the pain of

ement to Chloe Davis,

rounded, whose family

lse, someone who understood his

amily, who had disapproved of hi

, Ethan," his fa

n't li

een so co

emed unwavering.

ealized it was likely bought with money he thought was t

es for not having

us right now, darling. A

about her ar

e gesture: the "a

l Garden, unofficially "named" the "Ethan Mi

. A symbol of their

uel joke, a public br

eam sh

om. Julian Vance st

e, Miller. Al

an, holding a small

han, her eyes co

ed you anymo

a gasp, hea

rk, Ava breathing

eassurance, any sign that

spered. "Who

to him, her voice sle

, silly. My rock.

ed his f

ightstand buzzed.

out of bed. "He's having some crisis with h

ed out of

rance, then immedi

the dream's chill

e rang. An u

ered. "

Services. We're calling regarding Maya Thornton. There's been a s

ton. Not M

ce from the hallwa

wire the money. Don't worry about May

of bed, draw

, her back to him. Julian was on s

me board with her because of the temporary guardiansh

ld you, I'm handling everything. Maya is our daughte

daug

Ethan with p

denly appeared from the gu

hing alright? I

ast week, doting on Maya, praising

, her voice tight. "Just Juli

at marriage was a smart move for his visa, dear. And it kept things q

Eleanor knew. S

ad subtly pitied him for not having c

the call w

standing there. Her

little family drama. J

him, then past him,

sked, as if not

a strange calm

a's birth certificat

r hand on the

you ask,

t like t

es. I'll find i

Alway

to find Maya's documents. Ava was surpri

orn five years a

d as father. Ava T

rs and t

t with Julian's chil

romance, their "desti

th another man's child.

and sharp,

. Ava was sipping her coffee,

ing Maya," he sai

up, her eye

did yo

not be formall

lamming her mug

to bring her here, to give us a family! Are you th

then, looking rum

ng? Is he still being

mirk. "Come on, Miller. Step up

ady has a father, doesn't she, Va

d to Juli

has been through a lot. He needs support, not

lways Julian's car

the pitying looks from Ava's social

fended him. Neve

raged it, this image of him as perha

sperate plea in his heart, th

oment, want a child with me

fed, tur

Maya needs a stable home, and Julian needs to focus on h

yone exc

e inside him died. He f

eyes. Julian wasn't just a parasite; he was an ambit

udden, surpris

have th

as d

quietly. "Do whatev

to leave t

s a snake, stuc

arm catching the edge of the stone co

ch his own arm, wi

cried out, looking at

her face a mask of f

lian is our guest! If you

at them, his

l husband, her lover, t

outsider.

f the kitchen,

He wasn't sure why her na

e boutique hot

ice, the Santa Fe

umber online. She was a partner n

is hand shak

Davis s

lm, professio

s Ethan. Et

s a surprise. What can I do for you?

t. It almost m

ut us. Our engagement. Was it... is it still,

ger p

eadable in her voice. "As a matter of fact, no. No official dissolution was ever

e direct. Alm

trange, des