Damon read in silence. I watched his face cycle through emotions—confusion, anger, pain, devastation. His knuckles went white where he […]

I couldn’t sleep. The DNA results loomed—just hours away now—and my mind wouldn’t quiet. At two a.m., I gave up,

The DNA test had been done. Three days had passed since the media circus, and life had settled into a

The photographers showed up at dawn. I woke to the sound of camera shutters clicking like mechanical crickets, accompanied by

Beatrice showed up unannounced three days after Marissa’s disastrous visit. I was in the gardens with Lily, letting her experience

Marissa Vale arrived at eleven-thirty sharp, announced by the doorbell’s echo through the entire estate. I was in the nursery

Lily’s cheerful babbling woke me at six-fifteen. I dragged myself out of bed, my eyes gritty from too little sleep,

The crying started at two forty-seven a.m. I jolted awake, my heart racing, momentarily confused about where I was. Then

The nursery was painted the softest shade of lavender. I stood in the doorway, taking it all in—the white crib

I didn’t see Damon for the rest of that day. Beatrice drove me back to the Vale estate in stony