A Mother's Heart, A Cruel Lie

on the pregnancy test and a dry

nant. Th

as no part of me that wanted to be tied to this man, this fa

ension in his shoulders visibly eased. He le

ask of the caring husband back on. "Alex,

cold as the tile floor. I pushed p

nded, following me. "Why are you

rce papers still clutched in my hand. I

then at me, as if I'd spo

roperty on Elm Street. The one you bought last year. Sign

lt dissolution. But I needed a distraction, something for his massive ego to focus on be

eyes. He was finally sensing that something was truly wr

ings from me?" he asked, a condes

want me gone quietly, without a scene that could tarnish the great Gavyn Dunlap's reputation, then g

docile wife, would dare to challenge him was insulting. The idea that he co

he papers without even reading them. "Take it. And get out of

. I picked them up, my heart hammering w

e was c

room, I heard the twins w

aving?" Ka

Then Iliana can be our mom

e signed papers tightly in my hand. Soon,

n's meals, laying out his clothes, managing the household staff. I stayed in my room, nursing my

pared weren't to Gavyn's exacting standards. The twins refused to eat a

speration. "Mrs. Dunlap, Mr. Dunlap has an important meeting today, and he can't de

ry morning. I knew his wa

ening the door. "It brings out the blue in his eyes. And

then a grateful "

aren't you doing your duties?" he demanded. "T

d, my voice flat. "My leg hurts.

me being useless and left. He wanted his free nanny bac

d getting stomachaches. They were pale and listless. Gavyn came home one evening to find Kennith throwing up

le engine that kept this family running smoothly. I had curated their diets, managed their schedules, s

ays. That's how long the divorce cooling-of

om again. This time, his tone wa

the edge of my bed. "Are y

n't a

alk. But there's nothing going on between us. She's just an ol

he ones I had seen on his secret blog, being circulated onl

x. Nothing and no one will ever change that. Don't let petty jealousy

me, to make me feel like

simmering beneath the su

dn't let myself feel until now. "It's not good for them.

the eye. "Maybe I just