Chapter 3 - THE SECRET INSIDE MY BODYI did not tell Adrian about the pregnancy immediately.
That decision haunted me.
But I had reasons.
I had already lost two children.
I was terrified.
Every morning, I checked for blood.
Every night, I wondered if my body would betray me again.
I wanted to hear a heartbeat before I told him.
Then I wanted to see the heartbeat again.
Then I wanted the genetic tests.
By the time I felt brave enough to call, the divorce papers had been signed.
Nora insisted on a paternity test.
I resisted.
Not because I doubted Adrian was Grace's father.
Because I hated that my daughter had to be proven to him.
The result was undeniable.
99.99 percent.
Adrian Mercer was Grace's father.
But he knew nothing.
Meanwhile, his mother and Celeste were making plans.
They believed I would disappear.
They believed the divorce settlement would cut me away from the Mercer family.
They believed my inheritance could be redirected through corporate accounts.
They were wrong.
Nora had been investigating.
And the deeper she went, the darker the truth became.
My grandmother's trust had been emptied.
Four million eight hundred thousand dollars.
The money had moved through three shell companies.
One was connected to Celeste.
Another was controlled by a trustee appointed by Evelyn.
And the final transfer had been approved using my forged signature.
I had lost my husband.
But I had not lost my mind.
I began collecting evidence.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Patiently.
Then Grace was born.
And my heart began failing.
The doctors told me I needed treatment immediately.
Possibly a transplant.
The universe had given me the child I had wanted for years.
Then quietly threatened to take me away from her.
That was when I made my decision.
If I survived, Grace would know her mother had fought for her.
If I did not—
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Adrian would know his daughter existed.
And he would have to decide what kind of man he wanted to become.
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