Page 48 of The Billionaire's Most Unexpected Triplets

My eyes fill with tears. “Thank you,” I whisper.

They’re the only parents I’ve ever known. My dad was never around, and my mom died before I was one. If it weren’t for my grandparents, who knows where I would have ended up.

I owe everything to them.

“I should go.” I stand up. “Time to get back to work.”

“Thanks for the call, honey,” Grandma says. “Call us anytime.”

“I will. I love you.”

I hang up, feeling a bit better than before. So what if Jack won’t be in the picture? After growing up without a father, that’s not something I wish on anyone, but hey, I survived. Thrived, really.

I’m successful. I’m capable. Generally, I’m happy.

I’ll be all right, and so will my kids.

I head back inside, watching for signs of Jack with each step. I don’t pass by his office, though, so there’s no way of telling if he’s returned yet from storming off.

I enter the office to the sound of my desk phone ringing. It’s some law firm I’ve never heard of.

Frowning, I hit the answer button. “This is Leah.”

“Ms. Woodland, this is Carl Wallace from Gregson and Patterson.”

“Hello.” I take a seat, perplexed as to why a law firm is calling me. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m calling on behalf of our client, Jack Leadsom.”

My stomach does a flip. Whatever this is about, if Jack is involved, it can’t be good.

“All right.” I sit straight, bracing myself for whatever is to come next.

“This is to inform you that from now on, all manners relating to the children you and Mr. Leadsom are to be sharing will go through our law firm. You are not to contact Mr. Leadsom directly on this issue.”

My jaw drops. “Are you serious? We work together!”

“I understand that, Ms. Woodland. As you know, Mr. Leadsom is in a high-profile situation. All personal matters must be dealt with in the most delicate manner. As far as child support, as per state law, you will be receiving twenty percent of Mr. Leadsom’s monthly income. This will begin at the end of this current month so as to cover any expenses in the prenatal period. Mr. Leadsom will be free from all obligations to provide for the children except financially.”

I guffaw. Seriously? Jack couldn’t tell me this himself?

“How nice of him,” I say through tight teeth.

“I’m sure you are aware of Mr. Leadsom’s financial situation,” Carl Wallace continues. “Twenty percent of his monthly income is quite a hefty sum.”

I collapse back into my chair. I can only imagine what kind of money we’re talking about here. Enough to change mine and the triplets’ lives. We could probably live anywhere we wanted. I could quit working and stay home with them full-time if I wanted.

But while money is important, it’s not everything. And yet from Carl’s voice, you would think I’ve won the jackpot, that I should be pleased to trade my children’s chance at a father for a chunk of money.

“I will send over the documents for you to sign,” Carl says.

I unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth. “All right.”

What else can I say? This man is only doing his job. He doesn’t care about how terrible of a person I think Jack is.

I hang up, my whole body feeling numb. I feel sick, bile rising in my throat.

Rushing to the trash can, I vomit into it. Even after there’s nothing left for my stomach to expel, the dry heaves rack my body.

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