Page 117 of Endgame
Everett isn’t completely unhinged. He wouldn’t have held a grudge over something a kid did or said. He wouldn’t have hated me for a message that Molly and Winston had passed on to him that could’ve been a lie.
He’s mean and ruthless. Sadistic and kinky.
But he wouldn’t have married his own kid for revenge.
Definitely not. In fact, I’ve never been this sure of anything in my life.
Okay, so what’s next?
“You’re doing great.” Gina pats my shoulder.
“Thanks.”
The baby keeps staring up blankly. He’s in my arms, still. Safe. I split my attention between him and my husband. On the secrets everyone might’ve been withholding from me.
I have to figure out who that girl was. Why he hates me and my family.
Not just because knowledge is power. Sure, it could give me leverage over him.
My priorities have changed over time though.
Learning about my biological family is my priority. Even more so now, when my mom’s identity could be within reach. When my husband could be my dad.
A sob catches in my throat. The baby’s eyes drift shut. He lets out a cute huff and dozes off completely.
I still don’t want to know his name. I refuse to get attached.
I have other things to figure out instead of navigating through my feelings.
A couple of minutes tick by before I finally have an idea.
Everett’s clever. Sneaky, even. I don’t have a chance in hell of catching him off guard.
He’ll never blurt a single secret to me, especially after thesheslip-up.
Someone else might.
“He loves you already.” The optimism in Gina’s voice is contagious. Despite myself, I shoot her a smile.
“He’s sleeping.”
“Same thing.” She chuckles. “The five minutes we agreed on are over. So…”
“I’ll tell you what.” When I sneak a glance at Cormac, I find him texting. His shoulders are relaxed.
“Yes?” Gina’s expression is open. Hopeful.
It warms me to my core to know these babies have her looking after them.
“This isn’t as bad”—as terrifying, as numbing, as debilitating—“as I was afraid it would be. Maybe I could give another one of them some love after a quick bathroom break?”
Her lips curve up higher as she opens her arms to take the baby boy back. “Absolutely, Mrs. Alder.”
“Just Aurora.”
The giant rings on my finger don’t change who I am. To whom I truly belong to—myself.
Everett doesn’t really want me, anyway.
