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The remaining glass of wine was drained in one go. Ivy couldn’t keep this news from her friend any longer. Didn’t want to. It was a heavy burden to carry. Alone. Make no mistake, she felt desperately alone in this. There was no way she could voice her skepticism to Manny. Not without betrayal laying between them, wedging them apart.

Ivy left out her personal commentary. She unburdened herself of the secret she had been carrying. Kimberlin’s face was unreadable while Ivy told her about the first test, the subsequent second test, and the court’s mandate of the child support payment. The moment she stopped talking, the volatile expression that finally pierced Kimberlin’s features made her wish she could eat back her words.

“First off. Ivy, are you okay?” Belying her look, her voice was tender, full of concern.

“I’m fine.” She bobbed her head, trying to convince herself as well as Kimberlin.

After polishing off her own wine, and taking a deep breath she asked, “you believe him, don’t you?” Her voice was lowered and coated with her own disbelief.

“Yes, I do. Emmanuel says he has never even met this woman. He doesn’t have any reason to lie to me.”

“Ma’am!” She whispered but it felt like a roar. “Of course, he has a reason to lie. He got caught with his dick in the cookie jar.”

“That isn’t how that saying goes.”

Their meals arrived then. It looked amazing, the rolled lasagna sat on top of a creamy sauce peppered with crawfish and was topped with a succulent lobster claw. Ivy just stared down at the plate. Frozen. She couldn’t bring herself to dig in and she couldn’t look up at Kimberlin. She respected her friend but was certain she thought Ivy was all kinds of foolish.

A deep British voice penetrated her thoughts. “Ivy, I thought that was you.”

She looked up to see Aaron Ma. “Aaron,” She greeted in response.

He was in his chef’s coat, and the warm smile he was giving her died on his lips. “Is something wrong with the meal, neither of you have touched it.”

“No, not at all.” Both Kimberlin and Ivy answered.

“Sorry, we got caught up in conversation,” Ivy explained.

Aaron looked between the two women. She was certain he felt something was off, but he didn’t say anything. After all, they were casual social acquaintances. They knew each other through Karissa, and Aaron’s business dealings with Emmanuel.

“Oh, all right. Well, I’ll leave you two ladies to it. If you need anything Gio will be happy to take care of it. Enjoy your meals. It’s on the house. And Ivy please send my best to Emmanuel.”

Ivy forced a smile. “Will do.” It vanished when Aaron was gone, and she caught Kimberlin’s gaze trained on her.

“You wouldn’t understand.” Ivy hated having to explain herself like this. “I know what you are thinking?—”

“Do you?”

Ivy worried her bottom lip trying to keep the emotions out of her voice. “I know you think I’ve lost my mind. Logically I get how this looks. But I’m going with my heart here. Despite everything, I believe Manny because my heart tells me to.”

“Ivs. I get it. He is all you’ve ever known. Look at me.” Gesturing between her laser focused stare and Ivy, she advised, “eyes open my friend. Because maybe in this situation, you shouldn’t allow your heart to lead.”

Chapter Seven

BILLIE-JEAN

Ivy was furious and all of her animosity was directed at Emmanuel, like a hollow-point bullet. The build-up had been slow, but she was finally voicing her feelings.

“You want me to believe three DNA tests are wrong?! Including one test which was administered at the lab that I oversee, and I personally drew the sample for. Science all of a sudden holds no meaning because you got caught. Man up and admit you fathered a child with another woman.” Her breath was short by the time she finished, and her nostrils were flared. Worse were the daggers her eyes shot at him.

Yeah, they had had disagreements throughout their marriage. Nothing like this though. Ivy pulled at the roots of her hair, but her wedding ring got tangled in her curls. She glared at it as if the symbol of the marriage was now offensive to her. “Just leave me alone and be a father to your children.”

That struck a nerve, a deep one too. Other than being a good husband, Emmanuel prided himself on being a good father. Any other accomplishments could vanish into thin air for all he cared, but those two things were the pillars of his life. He had been patient. Hadn’t he? Trying to put himself into her shoes. Walking on eggshells. All so that the woman he loved more than life itself could talk to him like some deadbeat stranger. That band of patience stretched and then snapped.

“I don’t give a fuck what the test says. I’m asking you to believe me! The man you’ve known for almost three decades. I swear to God I’ve never ever touched another woman while we’ve been married, or even before. Once I touched you. That was it.” Emmanuel took a deep breath, regretting going off on her. It was short-lived. He reached for her hand, and she pulled away from him. His heart broke as she yanked the rings off of her finger.Nooo!This couldn’t be happening. He wouldn’t allow it.

“Hell no. I will never leave you alone. You’ve been mine since I was twenty-one and you’ll be mine till I take my last breath. I don’t know what the fuck is going on. I just know that child isn’t mine.” He shut his eyes to the anger pulsing in the air… his and hers.

The sound of something crashing, caused him to open his eyes. “I swear to God Emmanuel, I’m not going to allow you to make a fool out of me! Take your Michael Jackson ass outta here, with your bullshit Billie Jean drama.”

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