Se connecter{AUTHOR NOTE: I sincerely apologize for the duplicate chapter. It was not intentional, nor was it meant to waste your coins. Due to network issues, a chapter was uploaded twice. I had originally planned to upload two chapters today, and this clarification chapter is to address the error. Please be assured it will not happen again. Thank you for reading this far, and happy holidays.}**VIVIAN’S POV**I sat in my cramped Brooklyn apartment, staring at my laptop screen.I didn’t tell anyone where I’m at. Let them think I’d fled to the other coast when really I was just across the bridge, hiding in a neighborhood where nobody from my old life would ever think to look.The apartment was small. One bedroom. Peeling paint. Neighbors who fought loudly at two a.m. Nothing like the mansion I’d lived in for nine years.This was what I’d been reduced to.On my screen, another article about Serena. Another interview. Another feature about her remarkable comeback, her successful company, her reunit
“Because nobody who didn’t love their child would fight so hard to keep them. Your mother lied because she was scared of losing you. That doesn’t make it right. But it means she loves you.”Emma pulled back, looked at me. “What happens now?”“Now we figure it out. Together. You, me, Ethan, Sophia. We’re still a family. A weird, complicated, broken family. But we’re still family.”“And Serena? Does she know?”“Not yet. But I’ll tell her. She deserves to know the truth too.” I wiped Emma’s tears. “But Emma, this stays between us. Between our family. The media doesn’t need to know. The public doesn’t need to know. This is private.”“Because people would talk about it.”“Because you deserve privacy. You didn’t ask for any of this. You don’t deserve to have your paternity questioned publicly.” I stood up. “Are you going to be okay?”“I don’t know. But I’m glad you’re still my dad.”“Always.” I moved toward the door. “I love you, Emma. That will never change.”“I love you too, Dad.”Back in
“Because nobody who didn’t love their child would fight so hard to keep them. Your mother lied because she was scared of losing you. That doesn’t make it right. But it means she loves you.”Emma pulled back, looked at me. “What happens now?”“Now we figure it out. Together. You, me, Ethan, Sophia. We’re still a family. A weird, complicated, broken family. But we’re still family.”“And Serena? Does she know?”“Not yet. But I’ll tell her. She deserves to know the truth too.” I wiped Emma’s tears. “But Emma, this stays between us. Between our family. The media doesn’t need to know. The public doesn’t need to know. This is private.”“Because people would talk about it.”“Because you deserve privacy. You didn’t ask for any of this. You don’t deserve to have your paternity questioned publicly.” I stood up. “Are you going to be okay?”“I don’t know. But I’m glad you’re still my dad.”“Always.” I moved toward the door. “I love you, Emma. That will never change.”“I love you too, Dad.”Back in
“Sorry?” I was shouting now. “You built our entire relationship on a lie! You let me sign a birth certificate. Let me put my name on school documents. Let me claim her as my child for tax purposes. That’s fraud, Vivian. That’s paternity fraud.”“I know! I know it's a fraud. I know it’s unforgivable.” She was crying so hard I could barely understand her. “But I was scared. And then I fell in love with you. I really fell in love. And I couldn’t tell you the truth because I thought you’d leave. You’d take Ethan and Sophia and leave me and Emma with nothing.”“So you just kept lying.”“Yes.” The admission was quiet, broken. “I kept lying. And I told myself it was okay because you loved Emma. Because she loved you. Because we were a family even if it was built on a lie.”I sat down, put my head in my hands. “Does anyone else know?”“No. Just me. And now you and Emma.” She paused. “Adrian, please don’t tell her. Please don’t take away her father. She’s already lost so much—”“She found the
**ADRIAN’S POV**I was in my office reviewing contracts when Emma knocked on the door.“Dad? Can I come in?”“Of course, sweetheart.” I set down my pen, smiled at her. “What’s up?”She came in slowly, clutching a manila folder against her chest. Her face was pale, her eyes red like she’d been crying.“Emma? What’s wrong?” I stood immediately, moved toward her.“I found something.” Her voice was small, scared. “In Vivian’s old room. She left some boxes when she moved out, and I was curious, so I looked through them. I shouldn’t have, but I did. And I found this.”She held out the folder with shaking hands.I took it, confused. “What is it?”“I don’t know. But it has my name on it. And yours. And some other man’s name I don’t recognize.” She wiped her eyes. “Dad, I’m scared. I think it might be important.”I opened the folder, and the world tilted.DNA test results. The header read: “Paternity Analysis - Emma Moore.”My eyes scanned down the page, not comprehending at first. Then I saw
“Yes, Your Honor,” we said in unison.“Then congratulations. You’re officially co-parents.” She banged her gavel. “This court is adjourned.”Isabelle squeezed my shoulder. “You did it.”“We did it,” I corrected, looking at Ethan.He hugged me tight. “Thank you. For fighting for me. For never giving up.”“Always,” I whispered. “I will always fight for you.”Adrian stood awkwardly to the side, waiting. Ethan pulled away from me and hugged him too.“Thanks, Dad. For doing the right thing.”“I should have done it years ago,” Adrian said quietly. “But better late than never.”We filed out of the courthouse together. The press was waiting outside, cameras ready.“Ms. Moore! How does it feel to have joint custody?”“Mr. Moore! Will you and Serena reconcile?”“Ethan! Are you happy with this arrangement?”Isabelle pushed through them. “No comment. The family has issued a statement. Please respect their privacy.”We got into separate cars. Ethan was coming home with me for the first week of the







