Chapter 4

"Valerie, watch your mouth!"

Daryl stood, kicked Valerie aside, then bent down and picked up the crushed paper crane.

He pulled his daughter behind him, shielding her completely.

The look he leveled at Valerie made her shiver.

Valerie hit the floor hard, her face twisting with pain, but she still wouldn't back down.

"Daryl, I'm helping you see the truth!"

"You can't let this woman fool you again!"

A few words from her, and the softness that had just come into Kathy's face hardened all over again.

"Charlotte Simmons, you say the child is Daryl's."

"Fine. We go get a paternity test right now. Do you dare?"

She looked at me and spoke fast.

"If it's not a Gilbert child, you get out of Ashford immediately!"

I didn't hesitate. I took a bank card out of my bag and slapped it down on the table.

"No need to wait. I can leave right now."

"There's ten million on that card. The eight million from back then, principal and interest, paid back in full."

I met Kathy's eyes and said every word clearly.

"After the test proves the child's identity, we go our separate ways."

"From now on, nobody bothers anybody."

[Don't! Mr. Gilbert's going out of his mind, he doesn't care about that stupid money at all!]

[He's already written his will, everything under his name goes to his daughter, all he wants is his wife and kid and a warm home!]

The comments scrolled fast, a fresh wave every few seconds, the whole screen full of Daryl about to lose it.

Valerie braced herself on the table to stand, brushed the dust off her dress, then hooked her arm through Kathy's.

"Auntie, a test would just be a waste of time."

"Actually, I came today to give you the best news."

She drew a lab report out of her limited-edition bag, unfolded it slowly, and made a point of holding it up a little higher.

"Auntie, I'm pregnant."

Kathy snatched the report, and the moment she saw the result, her fingers started to tremble.

"Two months?"

"Valerie, you're really carrying the Gilbert family's first grandchild?"

She was so worked up her voice cracked.

"Wonderful, the Gilbert family finally has an heir!"

Tears welled in Kathy's eyes as she stroked Valerie's belly over and over, murmuring again and again that the Gilberts had an heir now.

The cold crept from my fingertips up to my shoulders. Five years of holding on, and all at once it seemed a little ridiculous.

I took a deep breath, bent down and picked up my daughter. I didn't want to stay here any longer.

"Daryl, I wish the three of you a long and happy life together."

"And may you have a child soon."

I forced the sting behind my eyes back down, took my daughter's hand, and turned to leave.

"Stop."

Daryl suddenly caught my wrist, five fingers clamped so tight the bones ached.

Then he turned his face toward Valerie and smiled, a very cold smile.

"Pregnant?"

A cold laugh forced its way out of his throat, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

"Three years ago I had a vasectomy, one side removed and permanently tied off."

"Valerie, whatever's in your belly, exactly whose first grandchild is that supposed to be?"