His Secret Son, Her Stolen Fortune

rse. By morning, I was delirious, drifting

er texts and used the spare key I' d given her. She took one look at

manded, pacing the small hospital

mbled, the lie tasting

ould have di

I told her everything. The trust. The secret child. The yea

to a deep, heartbreaking sympathy. When I finished

ispered, my voice hoarse

ce thick with emotion. "Y

with the quiet hum of the hospital machines. I felt

the restroom down the hall. As I pushed the door open, I heard familiar vo

yself into the shad

ng, her voice tight with tears. "Another boy pus

'll buy the damn daycare. I'll fire everyone.

pathetic whimper. "He'll always be your secret. H

fter now, full of a pained tend

ing him hurt," she

d her into his arms. She was crying into his chest, and he was stroking her hair. I

an to drum a restless, urgent rhythm against her spine. It was a tell. His tell. The

sper. "I'll fix it. I promise." His hand tighten

She pulled back slightly, her e

e was already lost. He leaned in

voice suddenly clear an

ely still. The frantic energy vanis

" he b

ragile vulnerability. "It's okay. I'll get rid of it. I know

ce. The helpless victim, sac

dable. Then, he shook his head, a slow, d

a resolve that chilled me to the bone. "You and Leo...

muscles, the shallow breathing. He was fighting it, fighting the urge that was roari

a guttural cry, he slammed his fist into the wall beside

d, shrinking

against the broken wall. "I'm sorry. I just

ish himself, not for me, but for her. I watched him offer her the same broken p

ever about me. It was just his pattern. A sick,

e more victim caught i

ldn't breathe. I stumbled back from the door, my vision swimming. I had to get away be

next two days in the hospital, recovering. When Aiden called,

d the signed divorce papers in my hand like a

nce called home, I heard the sound of a child's laugh

g room, Leo was playing on the floor. With

he delicate porcelain ballerina from my mother' s