His Secret Son, Her Public Shame

t risk another close call. The next morning, Maria

familiar. I told her you were my cousin, just filling in for the

re' s what you do now. Quit. I' ve deposited a year'

he other end of the line.

One loose end tied u

she was a shark of a lawyer, the sharpest mind I knew. We met at

r lie. I slid the flash drive across the table. Her face, us

as she gripped her coffee cup. "All of them. Your

ietly. "I just want to disappear. I want to leave

n' s assets, not to mention a massive settlement

ike ash. "Their money is what they used to buy my silence

reak. We can do that. We' ll prepare the divorce papers, cite infidelity. And a docum

nniversary" dinner Ivan had proposed. The location was set: a private room at The Oak Room, th

il that made my blood run cold. Debi saw my

m Dr. Donovan' s dietary restrictions. The chef notes her m

horror. "Benzos? They

niversary of their great deception, I might finally get emotional, or suspicious. They were going to se

there was some twisted, misguided love behind the

that had nothing to do with humor. "Of course,"

rabbed my hand. Her grip was firm,

m going to let them think their plan is worki

ition. The legal renunciation of the Donovan name and fortune. With eac

nce I was a child in the system, before they found me. A name that was truly mine. The flight was for Saturday night,

ent, Ivan was there, humming

ting my eyes. "Have to fly out tonight, back to

He was going to Kiera' s.

I said, m

smissive peck on the chee

eplied, the wor

oneliness didn't hurt. It felt like freedom. I was no longer Aliana Donovan, the long-lost daughter, t