Chapter 2

“What?” Chloe blinked.

A furious voice cut in from the front steps before anyone could answer.

“What father? Don’t tell me you expect Mercer Group to raise some other man’s kid for free.”

Every head turned.

Blake Mercer strode through the door, wrapped an arm around Chloe’s waist, and pulled her against him.

“Don’t worry, Chloe. I’m not marrying her just because the Hartwells found their biological daughter.” He looked at me with open contempt. “If Sophie’s that desperate to marry money, my driver’s available. He’s been divorced twice, but that’s about her level.”

Chloe’s eyes filled instantly. She pressed herself into his chest. “Our families have expected their heirs to marry for almost thirty years. I know it never would have been me if Sophie hadn’t disappeared. I was only worried Dad would bring her back and force you to leave me. That’s why I told her to deal with the baby first.”

Blake frowned at me and cut her off. “Even if she got rid of it, I wouldn’t marry her. A woman with her reputation is never setting foot in the Mercer family.”

Applause broke out around us.

“Look at the way he protects Chloe.”

“They’ve been together for years. If Sophie tries to break them up now, she’s the other woman — biological daughter or not.”

“Maybe she thought the old family agreement meant Blake would have to raise someone else’s child.”

“She grew up with no class and no connections. A Mercer employee is more than she deserves.”

Blake took in the praise with a satisfied nod, then looked at me as though he were issuing a decree.

“As long as I’m here, you’re not taking anything from Chloe.”

I met his eyes and found I wasn’t even angry. His self-regard was so complete that it stopped being insulting and simply turned my stomach.

I smiled. “My baby’s father isn’t you, and I’ve never once wanted to marry you.

“Next to my husband, you’re barely worth looking at.”

His face darkened. A moment later he burst out laughing. “Sophie, you really don’t know when to quit.”

He pulled out his phone and opened a folder of video clips.

“Did you think I hadn’t looked into you? I couldn’t find a marriage record anywhere. What I did find was footage of you walking into clubs with a different man every time.”

He held the screen out to the crowd.

“A nightclub girl telling me I don’t measure up to her baby’s father. Who exactly are you trying to fool?

“Or is the whole act just a way to get my attention?”

Laughter swept the foyer.

“That really is her.”

“There’s video. What’s left to argue about?”

“Her mother ran off with a man, and now Victor gives her a second chance and this is what he gets.”

“Blake is Mercer Group’s only heir. How dare she talk to him like that?”

“Everybody step back. Who knows what she’s carrying.”

Ethan sucked in a breath and jabbed a finger at me.

“How did I end up with a sister like you? You should have stayed missing.”

For a moment I said nothing. Then I looked at the phone in Blake’s hand and laughed.

“The woman in those videos is me.”

Elaine crowed. “You hear that? She admitted it. That child has no father anyone can name.

“Victor is going to lose his mind. Get her to a clinic before he’s back.”

“There’s one problem with your story,” I said.

I looked straight at Blake.

“That building isn’t a nightclub. It’s the Ember Room — a licensed bar, and I own it.

“I meet investors, vendors, and friends at my own business. What exactly does that prove?”

I lifted my phone. “You just fabricated evidence in front of a room full of people. One call from me and Mercer Group doesn’t see tomorrow.”

Before he could answer, Elaine’s phone rang. She snatched it up, and Victor’s voice carried clearly through the speaker.

“Keep Sophie’s pregnancy quiet. Whatever it takes. Nobody can know about that child yet.”