His Deception, Her True Freedom

ter half an hour, I knew he wasn't jus

sting. I got dressed in the clothes the hospital

ward, a place I knew existed but had never had a reason to vis

ee Willow's room. The door was open. S

ow who I am? I'm carrying Ethan Hay

s mother, was sitting by Willow's bed. She wasn't scolding her.

n't upset yourself. It's not good for th

ive years was now fawning over my husband's mistress. The reas

corner of the room, look

he said. "Let's

her voice sharp. "She needs to be cared for. You need to do the right thing.

The words hu

s bandaged palm a stark reminder of h

lty? She can't give you a child, Ethan! This is your c

block of ice. I saw Ethan's face, the c

g that was both pathetic

f IVF," he stammered. "We used a su

d at him, a flicker of admiration

ate?" she

livia and I... we wanted a child so badly

went to extreme lengths to give his wife a child. He was trying

age of the devoted husband was crucial to his public persona. The saint who stood by his broken wife. Div

," she said finally. "We'll do a paternity t

hide." She then turned her gaze to Ethan, her eyes hardening. "But I have conditions.

g to happen," Et

reatened. "Find a nice quiet place to live, ju

s bla

lode. He turned to leave, to get some

lked righ

s face draining of

e then. Eleanor looked furio

in," Ethan began,

my eyes cold and

lease, Liv. It's not what it looks li

rd, so insulting, t

You cheated on me for five years for me? You had a

reasonable. This is about the future

," I said, not even looking at h

I could react, he wrapped his arms around me from behind, burying his face in

trembling. He

unthinkabl

cold matriarch, fell to

ndchild away from me. He's the only heir. The Hayes bloodline... it has to continue. H

ocating. Ethan holding me, his mother weeping at my feet, Willow watching with a s

. So incred

ital floor. I looked at his mother's tear-streaked

se of calm wa

voice flat. "Let

me in relief. Eleanor looked u

They had no idea this was j