Illed Thad to.
There was no way I was bringing Lam back to the house where he got hurt, I wasn’t stupid enough to do that, not when I still didn’t know exactly who was responsible and for how long. How could I risk traumatizing him further by making him wake up to the same room where he’d probably cried himself to sleep?
The guilt gnawed at me, making my chest ache. My son deserved better. I felt like a failure, a deadbeat who didn’t deserve the title of “father.” He probably hated me, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him.
But i was determined to make things right. Liam was in a safe place now, and until I could uncover who had hurt him, I would keep him there. I just had to figure out how to reunite him with Raina on termi
Yesterday, as I’d watched Raina walk away with Nathan, the man gheed to her side, I lanewt couldn’t sit back anymore. I picked up my phone and called my private investigator.
*Find everything you can on Nathan,” I told him
Now, sitting at my desk, I couldn’t get her words out of my head. She has a boyfriend
The phrase echoed in my mind, each repetition sharper and more painful than the last. My lists clenched involuntarily, the anger simmering just beneath the surface
How could she moves eastly? How could she let someone else into her life, her heart, when she was still
my wife?
Yes, I lew it was selfish. Hell, I’d spent years hiding the fact that we were still married. She had every right to move forward, to find happiness again.
But knowing it didn’t make it easier to accept.
Just because she didn’t know we were still manted didn’t mean she should be with anotherman.
Lexhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair and running a hand through my hair. The bittemess in my chest felt suffecating, but I couldn’t stop it. Nathan was everywhere now, always hovering, always close to her. The way he looked at her, the way she trusted him–it made my stomach chum
The sound of a knock at the door pulled me out of my spiralling thoughts.
“Come in,” I said, straightening slightly, though the frustration still lingeerd in my voice.
The door creaked open, and my assistant peeked her head in
Sullivan,” she began hesitantly, sensing my
my mood. “Someone’s here to see you.”
“Let them in.”
The door swung open, and Dominic strode inside, his movements deliberate, his expression hand and unreadable.
Itood, my guard already up. If you’re here to threaten me again, don’t bother,” I said, my tone cold. If anything, we should be working together on this.”
He didn’t respond, didn’t rise to my bait, Instead, he reached into his jacket and pulled out an enviope, placing it on my desk with a level of calm that set me even imate on edge.
Ifrowned, talong the envelope. “What’s this?”
Dominic did’t answer. He turned on his heel and walked out without another word, his silence uncharacteristic and, frankly, unsettling.
Curiositypridded at me, but annoyance bubbled just beneath the surface, tore the envelope open and scanned the contents.
My jaw tightened as the alligation hit. They were taking me to court.
My imitation sharpened as I noticed thejusdiction–it wasn’t local. Of course, it wasn’t. I’d mentioned once, in passing, that the state attorney was a friend of mine, and now Baina had deliberately chosen a different state.
The move was calculated, smart, and infuriating.
1 at the papers drop to my deskaspard the room, my thoughts racing.
Before I could stew any longer, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I grabbed it, seeing my private investigator’s name on the screen
email,” he said without paramble.
The line went dead before i could respond
I sat back at my desk, opened my laptop, and clicker
new message sitting in my inbox.
The subject line was simple but ominous: Nathan Carter–Background Check
I clicked in it, and as I read through the details, my Initation transformed into something darker, more sagacious,
Nathan Gratum had been an emphan, just like Dominic and faina. He had grown up in the same orphanage as them.
What were the odds?
I dialed the investigator’s camber again, “Is this a
sall you found aliout Nathan’s Childhood)”
He hesitated before answering. “No, there’s more. No one knows exactly where Mathian went after the orphanage. But what I did find was that he studied law at the same school as you and BalnTM
My heart skipped a heat. The same law school? Hoe was that even possible? Mathan had disappeared right after Raina was kidnapped, and now heddenly shows up, right under my nose, and not only that he was in the same law school as us?
Upon hearing this, I quickly scrolled further, my eyes namowing when I came across a scaned yearbook photo. There he was, Nathan Graham, sitting in the same gmup 1 had been part of, just a few lares away.
Idid=‘t remember him, but there he was. A ghost hiding in plain sight.
Why hadn’i Haina mentioned him before? Did she even know he had been at the same college?
The questions plied i • In my mind, one after another, assuspicion dug its claws deeper into me.
I wanted to believe this was just acoincidence, but something about it felt off. First, the orphanage. Now, the same college. I had no idea where had been all these years, but the fact that Nathan had been nearby, that close to her life without me knowing—it didn’t sit right with me.
I realized I nerded in talk to haina Thad to wamber. But what would I even say If I saw her? If she agreed to meet me?
She hated me, I knew that, she’d made it clear. Would she even listen to me, de would she shut me out completely? My mind screamed no, but my heart, twisted and despriate, wanted to see her again. To make her understand.
Topened my enull and typed a quick response to any investigator
Dig deep. I want to know where Nathan was during the years a disappeared. Find out if there’s a connection between them during that time. I don’t care how long it takes–just get me answers.
Thit send, my jaw.denched.
This wasn’t a coincidence.
I didn’t believe inconcidences anymore.
Just as I was about to leave my office, Vanessa appeared.
was already teetering on the edge of frustration. Her dramatic whining
bining about Katma firing her only made it worse.
“Can you imagine the nerve of her?” Vanessa hutted, trailing behind me as I grabbed my sult facut. “After I worked so hard to get a job at Graham Industries! And then she hers some do on to portend to be Dame’s wife–how absurd is that?“,
I stopped mid–stride, turning slowly to face lir. “You got a job at the drahams” company?” My volle was cold, my patience wearing thin
Vanessa crossed beams, pooting like a child. “Yes. And it was going fine until Haina decided to sabotage me!?
“Sabotage?” barked, incredulous. “Aur you listening to yourself? You’re the one who caused a scene! What the hell wese you thinking, Vanessa?”
Her dellance faltered, and for a split second, guilt flickered across her face before she masked it with indignation.
Took a step closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous calen. “No, Vanessa. It’s yours. Your obsession with Dominic has gone too far, and now you’ve made things
She blinked, genuinely startled by my for
“I lose Raina for good because of your nonsense,” I continued, enunciating every word, “I will deal with you mysell.”
With that, I brushed past her and liraded out the door.
I didn’t head straight to Raina’s office. Something told me it would be a waste of tie–she wouldn’t be alone, not with Mathun always hovering nearby.
Jostead, I drove to Nathan’s office, see of unease pushing the forward.
When Laived, my instincts were coodlined. Three slie was, standing with hins
Nathan leaned casually against the wall, his body angled toward her in a way that made my blood boil. He was too close–closer than any man had a right to be with my wife. It wasn’t just the proxiiuity; it was the way he looked at her, the ease in their interaction. She trusted film completely, and the realization hit me like a Punch to the gu
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-25 Bonus
Istepped out of the car, forcing myself to stay calm even as jealousy churned through me. I leaned against the hood, crossing my arms, and walted.
It didn’t take long for her to notice me. Our eyes met, and I mouthed, We need to talk.
Her expression didn’t change. She didn’t so much as nod. Instead, she turned back to Nathan, dismissing me entirely.
My jaw clenched, the simmering anger threatening to bubble over. I pulled out my phone and quickly typed a message: It’s about your little boyfriend. Meet me
Her phone buzzed in her hand. I saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes as she glanced at the screen. Then, finally, her gaze returned to mine, harder this time.
I didn’t wait for her response. I climbed back into my car and drove to a nearby coffee shop, parking near the entrance where I could keep an eye on the door.
She didn’t keep me
me waiting long.
Rainstormed into the shop like a whirlwind, her face a misture of limitation and exhaustion. Her eyes locked onto mine immediately, and I could see the fury blazing there
“I don’t have time for your nonsense, Alex,” she snapped, her voice low but sharp enough to cut. “You need to stay away from me, or swear I’ll get a restraining order
I gestured to the chair across from me, keeping my tone calm despite the tension cracking between us. “Sit down first.”
She hesitated, the fire in here not dimming for a second. But after a long, charged moment, she pulled out the chair and sat down, her posture rigid
“Talk,” she said, crossing her arms. “Make it quick”
