Chapter 2

Logan doesn't ask questions. He just floors it.

The Grand Sovereign is the most exclusive hotel in the city. It also happens to be owned by Logan.

We pull up to the entrance, and the first thing I see is a massive welcome banner outside the ballroom.

The same family photo from the studio. Vivian curled into Julian's side. Lily perched on Julian's shoulders. And in glittering gold script:

"Happy 6th Birthday, Our Beloved Lily!"

Six.

Lily is five.

I read it three times. My brain refuses to compute.

Logan's jaw locks. He's the owner of this entire building, and someone rented his ballroom to throw a party mocking his best friend.

He moves to grab the nearest manager, but I touch his arm.

"Not yet."

I push the ballroom doors open.

Music. Champagne. Two hundred faces turning at once.

Most of them are Julian's employees. I don't show up at his office often, but I've dropped off lunch a few times. Some of them recognize me.

"Oh my God, isn't that Mrs. Miller? The trophy wife?"

Someone laughs. The whispers crash over me like a tidal wave.

"What's SHE doing here? On a night like this?"

"I heard she doesn't even work. Just spends Julian's money all day."

"Look at that dress. Probably swiped his black card to buy it."

Julian is on stage. White tux. Long ceremonial knife in his hand. Vivian's hand on top of his, both of them poised over a five-tier cake. The picture of a perfect couple.

He sees me. And he doesn't even flinch.

He just frowns, like I'm a stain on his rug.

"Chloe? What the hell are you doing here? I told you to stay home. Don't embarrass me."

He doesn't even step down from the stage. He scolds me from above, like I'm a misbehaving dog.

I keep walking.

"Embarrass you?" My voice is hoarse. I point at the banner. "Julian. Is Lily five years old, or six?"

His eyes flicker. Just once. Then he doubles down, chin high.

"What's the difference? Five, six, who cares?"

That's when Vivian glides forward. Custom gown. Champagne flute. Demure smile. The very picture of grace.

"Chloe, sweetie, since you're here, why don't you grab a seat in the back? Tonight's a celebration. Lily's birthday, and my promotion. Don't ruin it for everyone."

A small body launches itself at me before I can answer.

A shove against my hip. Hard.

"Get AWAY from her!"

My five-year-old daughter. The girl I rocked through fevers, whose first word was Mama, whose tiny fingers I held while she learned to walk.

She's wearing a princess dress. And she's looking at me like I'm her enemy.

"You can't bully Mama Vivian! Mama Vivian says you're a useless loser! She says you're just dragging Daddy down!"

Something inside my chest cracks clean in half.

"Lily…" My voice breaks. "Baby, I'm your mama…"

"NO YOU'RE NOT!"

She wraps her arms around Vivian's leg and tilts her chin up like a queen.

"Mama Vivian is my real mama! She's pretty and rich and buys me everything! She says I have her smart blood, NOT some loser's blood like yours!"

The room erupts.

Laughter. Howling, vicious laughter.

"Oh my GOD, she's been raising another woman's kid?!"

"Five years of changing diapers for nothing!That's gotta be the cuck of the century!"

Every employee who ever called me Mrs. Miller with a polite smile is now twisting the knife to suck up to Julian and Vivian.

Six years ago, I was funding Vivian's senior year of college. That same year, Julian "happened" to meet me at a coffee shop, weeping about how his ex broke his heart, how he just wanted a stable, gentle woman to settle down with.

It was a setup. From day one.

They needed a free meal ticket. A dumb, rich nanny. They picked me.

And my own daughter…

I already know the answer to that one.

"Julian." I drag in a breath. My voice is steel.

"So these last five years. Was all of it an act?"

Logan can't take it anymore. He shoves to the front of the crowd and jabs a finger at the row of executives.

"You blind idiots! Look at me! Look at me and tell me you don't recognize who I…"

"SECURITY!"

Julian cuts him off, irritated, like Logan is a fly buzzing in his ear.

"Get these two psychos OUT of here. Especially the bum next to Chloe. What's he, your broke cousin? Dressed like a trailer park reject."

The employees are practically vibrating to impress him. Before security can move, three big middle-managers are already rolling up their sleeves and circling us, grinning like wolves.