A Mother's Heart, A Cruel Lie

ared at me, his face a mixture of disbelief and co

if dealing with a petulant child. "I know what this is about. You'

l whisper. "You don't need to be. You are Mrs. Gavyn Du

es were like a

t. "The children's birthday is next week. I need you to start

to create for them. A birthday gift from their loving mother. A

. "It's Iliana's birthday on the same day. We'll cel

could feel my whole body start to tremble

f course, it wa

s past my due date, swollen, and in constant pain. But Gavyn had insisted I wait. "Let

s birthday. He had made me suffer for days, just so his children,

felt a hysterical laugh bubble up inside me, but I swall

e. I couldn't escape it. Gavyn insisted I play th

he queen of this court. She arrived in a custom-made gown that shimmered under the party lights, a d

nn flanked her, each holding one of her ha

Gavyn's high-society cir

liana Dudley.

r, you know. The wife

look like the perfect family.

ay, escaping to the quiet of the veranda overlooking the lak

arty," a soft voice

ia

ant smile on her face. "You did a wonderf

er, my expression blank

ing. "I wanted to thank you. For taking s

your services are no longer required. I'm back now.

t her, my eyes col

pped the diamond bracelet from her wrist, a gift I'd seen Gavyn give her on his secret blog. "

racelet. It arced through the air and lan

Somebody help! She threw

olling down her perfect cheeks. "My moth

ant, his face a thunderclo

I said, my voice calm. "

icker of doubt in his eyes. He knew me. He knew

t was the bracelet my mother gave me before she died! Th

. It went from angry

trinket he had bought for her when they were teenagers. But it was a

the veranda," I said, my voice leve

aused, his gaze shifting from me to her. He was

body launched itself forward, standing p

Kaelynn was ri

r at me. "I saw her! She grabbed the bracelet from Iliana'