CHAPTER 10: The Name on the Birth Certificate

But an older man, silver-haired, sharp-eyed, seated behind a mahogany desk. His tailored suit was pristine, and he radiated the kind of authority that made the room feel colder.

“Ms. Jameson,” he said, standing with a practiced smile. “A pleasure.”

“Thank you for having me,” she said, voice even despite the discomfort prickling under her skin.

“I’ve read your work impressive. We’re expanding our image and branding department. Our clientele list includes politicians, philanthropists… and high-profile business figures. We need someone discreet. Creative. Meticulous.”

Melinda’s mouth went dry. Something told her this wasn’t just another gig.

He pushed a folder across the table. “You come highly recommended.”

She opened it and nearly choked.

There, staring up at her in high definition, was a photo of James Locke.

Alongside it: a press release draft about a potential run for state governor.

Her stomach plummeted.

“I’m sorry what is this?”

“James is considering stepping into politics. The Locke family is widely respected. But there’s… history to manage. And your creative expertise along with your silence could be extremely useful.”

Useful.

She stared at the glossy headshot of the man who’d kissed her breathless six years ago and ruined her entire sense of direction.

And now?

Now he was about to run for office and she was being handed a job built around hiding the truth.

She carefully closed the folder.

“Does James know about this?” she asked.

The older man gave a tight smile. “Not yet. This is still exploratory. But I do hope we can count on your discretion, Ms. Jameson. And your… loyalty.”

The message was clear.

Take the job. Bury the past. Keep your mouth shut.

Melinda stood.

“I’ll consider the offer.”

And then she left before she could scream.

By the time she made it home, her head was spinning.

James had just dropped the twins off with her neighbor and left a handwritten note on the counter.

“Elijah helped me tie his shoes. Elena told me I suck at braiding. She’s not wrong. Let’s talk soon J.”

Melinda crumpled the note with shaking hands.

How could he look at her like that like he wanted a future while his family was preparing a campaign built on lies?

She was pulled out of her spiral by the sudden ping of a text from an unknown number.

Unknown: You’re being watched. Be careful what you do next.

Her blood turned cold.

She backed up into the wall, eyes darting around the living room windows.

Who the hell…?

Another ping.

Unknown: James can’t protect you from what’s coming. And neither can your secrets.

Melinda didn’t sleep that night.

Not with that anonymous text gnawing at her thoughts. Not with the twins nestled safely in their beds while she sat awake on the couch, gripping a kitchen knife like a madwoman and watching shadows dance on the walls.

She’d changed her number years ago. She didn’t give it out. Which meant whoever sent that message… knew too much.

By sunrise, she was done waiting.

She stormed straight to James’s penthouse.

The concierge tried to stop her. Didn’t work. Not when Melinda had fury in her stride and desperation in her bones.

James opened the door wearing a towel slung low around his waist, steam rising behind him from a fresh shower.

“Melinda?” He blinked. “What’s wrong? Are the twins”

She pushed past him.

“They’re fine,” she snapped. “For now.”

James shut the door, confused and cautious. “What’s going on?”

She threw the crumpled message at him. “You tell me.”

He picked it up. Read it. His jaw clenched.

“Where did you get this?”

“From my phone. Last night.” Her voice cracked. “Don’t play dumb, James. Someone knows. About the twins. About me. About you.”

His silence was enough to confirm what she feared.

“You know something,” she whispered.

James dragged a hand through his wet hair and let out a breath like a man bracing for a blow. “I’ve been getting threats for months. Blackmail attempts. People trying to dig into my past. I didn’t think they’d come for you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “So you knew this would happen. And you didn’t warn me?”

“I didn’t think it would touch you!” he exploded, guilt riding his voice. “I thought I could keep my world away from yours.”

Melinda crossed her arms. “Your world? You mean the world where you’re running for office and hiding your children?”

His head snapped toward her. “I never meant to”

“Don’t lie,” she said coldly. “Your father offered me a job yesterday. To ‘manage your image.’ To help sell your little campaign like you’re squeaky clean.”

James froze.

“Harold contacted you?”

“So that’s his name. Harold Locke. The puppet master.” She laughed bitterly. “He knows about the twins, doesn’t he?”

James didn’t answer.

That silence broke her heart more than any rejection could.

She blinked hard and looked away.

“I should’ve left the moment you walked back into our lives.”

“Melinda”

“You say you care about them,” she whispered. “But do you even know their favorite colors? Elena’s terrified of thunder. Elijah sleeps with a plush dinosaur every night. You missed everything. And now you want to play hero because your guilt finally caught up to you?”

His voice was hoarse. “I never stopped loving you.”

Her breath caught.

But she didn’t let that sway her.

“Then you should’ve shown up sooner. Before the damage.”

She walked toward the door.

But then

“Wait,” he said.

She turned, and James strode to a locked drawer in his office. Pulled out a sleek, black envelope.

“I filed this last week. For them.”

He handed her a document.

She unfolded it.

It was an official petition.

Petition for Amendment of Birth Records

Filed by: James Harold Locke III

Request: To add biological father’s name to both birth certificates of Elijah Jameson and Elena Jameson.

Melinda stared.

“I don’t want to be a ghost in their story anymore,” he said. “I want to be their father. Not just in blood. In name. In everything.”

Emotion surged inside her too much, too fast.

But before she could respond, the door buzzer rang.

James frowned. “I’m not expecting anyone.”

He pressed the intercom.

A deep male voice crackled through.

“Mr. Locke, this is Detective Harrison. We need to speak with both you and Ms. Jameson. It’s about a break-in at her apartment last night and a missing body linked to your family.”

Melinda’s knees buckled slightly.

James turned pale.

And the cracks in both their worlds finally shattered.