Her Son, His Secret

a pen, my hand trembling. I agreed to sign, but a tiny, stupid part of my

y phone and se

et one last tim

most instant, co

Do not contact me directly again. Ch

hrough my tears. He was gone. The real Liam,

om when it rang. An unfamiliar number. I alm

ia Hayes?" a man's

cted him automatically. I would

er, the 'Eternal Star' necklace, is ready for pickup. Mr. Hayes placed

ur honeymoon. A unique star-shaped diamond surrounded by smaller sapphires, his birthstone. He had pro

Vance? Are

say. "Yes, I'm her

in my chest. Maybe this was a sign. May

heart pounding with a nervous rhythm. As I

erful to see you. The

g room and placed a velvet bo

eautiful than I had ever imagined. It was ou

to touch it, the doo

beside him, clinging

immediately landing on the open box. "Oh, Li

e, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

You probably ordered it for me before... well, you know. Bef

I instinctively put my hand over

why are you being so mean? You're already taking ev

oice shaking with anger.

eyes welling with tears. "Is that

de when he was stressed. "I don't know, Chloe. I don't remember. But it doesn't m

make a

to give our necklace, the symbol of our entire his

ooked directly at him. "This is

I don't need it. It's fine. I just thought...

eached over and took the box from under my hand. Hi

he necklace out of the box. "Don't c

d her neck. It lay against her ski

ne. She touched the diamond at her thro

in her eyes. "Oh, dear," she said, her hand fumb

. The necklace fell to the plush carpet. The main s

ering her mouth with he

y past lying on the floor. My hear