His Secret Family, My Public Shame

ra

but was determined to play to perfection. I was Lynn Winters, the happy fiancée, the devoted daughter. I smiled at Lia

ecret weapon, was hidden in the lining of a purse I never used. Every smile I g

f the Washington D.C. social calendar. It was less than a month away. An event swarmin

I found a top-tier divorce lawyer who specialized in high-profile political cases and arranged a discreet consul

t like home, now made my skin crawl. One evening, he came up behind me as I wa

king about?" he mu

counting the seconds until I

k into him just enough to sell the l

to my temple. "It's our last big event befo

thick I could h

next phase of my plan presented itself. Liam was sc

g his tie in the mirror. "But it's a close

briefcase. "I was thinking of doing

**property records I'd uncovered**. It was a fifty-minute drive, a straight shot down the highway. My

back from the road in a neighborhood of pristine lawns and imposin

plan was risky, bordering on insane. I

sive athleisure wear, looking every bit the wealthy suburban mother. She strapped F

as my

outdated lock I'd spotted with binoculars. My hands shook as I inserted the tension wrench and the pick. My first attempts failed, the metallic scrape against the

covered in framed photos of the three of them. A child's drawing of their family was s

me. It was

bedroom. It was neat and tidy, decorated in serene shades of grey

in a simple white dress, he in a dark suit. It must have been a secret ceremony, a commi

my life.

d called me his future,

pictures on the walls, the drawing on the fridge, the damnin

nightstand caught my eye. It was a small, vel

wedding ring. It was meant for her. He was

ling into the driveway. My heart leaped

g the louvered doors shut just as I heard the front door open. I crouched in the da

a mutter to herself. Then her phone rang. I

g careful... I know, I know. Just until the wedding. Then you can stop worrying about me

framed me for. It wasn't just a leak; it was a dirty deal my father was inv

off. I waited a full five minutes, my body trembling, before I dared to m