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