Replaced By A Pregnant Substitute

a

t observant person in the room. I played my part to perfection. I was the fragile, sightless fiancée, d

e a light into my eyes, and I forced myself not to flinch, to give no indicati

neutral. I stood just inside the bedroom door, pretending to search for a

e ice, to see... what? The man I loved doting on another woman? The life that was stolen from me?

camouflage. My only goal was to survive the next few weeks until Dari

command from the hallway, oblivious

for a moment. "What? Jaxon, for f

ngly precise. "Her blindness... it' s better this way. For everyone. Kamila

five years, he had dangled the carrot of recovery in front of me, a

around it, squeezing so hard that the sharp edges of the pavé diamonds bit into my palm. A drop of b

it left me weak. I bumped into the large, framed wedding photo on my dresser-a life-sized portrait of Jax

as choking on silent, wracking sobs. The grief was a physical thing, a monster clawing its way out of my chest.

n's home office, a machine he' d once boasted could destroy corporate secrets. I fed our smilin

from the doorway. "What wa

indness. "Just getting rid of some old files,

This looks familiar..." he murmured, but his attention was alr

ng a massive bouquet of lilies. "Happy birthday,

flower I was violently allergic to, filled the air. I doubled

aux concern on her face. She clamped a hand over m

g room. There, on the table, was a birthday cake.

amila said brightly. "I hope yo

rm. "You're so thoughtful, Kami." H

lungs burned, my eyes felt like they were on fire. I looked from

it came, was te

ot my birth

ered. "What? O

eath. The son I miscarried while you were in Tokyo, closing a deal. And I,

by a flicker of horrified recognition, of guilt. For a split second, I

e was

s imposter, and the ghost of our dead child. I didn't need to see

tting by my bed, his silhouette dark against the pale moonlight. He had

t tenderness. "I'm so sorry about yesterday. I... I do

ged a private concert in the garden, a string quartet playing my favorite Deb

fused his touch. I l

ence gone. "Be that way." He scooped me up into his arms, ignoring my rigi

night air cold against my thin silk nightgow

atrical smile on her face. But my eyes weren't on h

a thick, fur-lined coat, his hands lingering on her waist. "Are you warm enough, my lo

by. Each word w

ion. "We're fine, Jaxon. Now, a

rish, she pulled the

iger. Its eyes, glowing like embers in the dim light,

tiger! Ila, isn't it magnificent? Kamila arran

blind woman. The crue

s the tiger. "Isn't he be

locked on me, its body tensed, ready

s an ex

-