All Chapters of Bound by Deception : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

“I think I’m pregnant.” Diana revealed.Her mother gasped in surprise. “You’re pregnant? When did you find out?” She had an elated look on her face that Diana couldn’t reciprocate with how queasy she felt.“A few minutes ago. I took a test and it came out positive.” She answered. “Oh, this is just perfect! A little Persson baby!” Her mother exclaimed excitedly as she got up from the bed.Diana swallowed. “Mom, it’s not—” She attempted to tell her mother the real father of her baby but immediately decided against it. Maybe it was better if no one knew the truth.Besides, she doubted her mother would listen to anything she said, after what she just heard. “Were you saying something, darling?” Her mother asked.“I was just saying that the test could be wrong though. It’s not uncommon to get a false positive.” Diana swiftly said. Her mother waved her off. “That hardly ever happens,” Diana could see the wheels turning in her head. “Besides, this is your chance to drive them apart and get

Dakota took one look at the figure standing in front of her and sighed. “What are you doing here?” She stood by the front door as she gave her sister a once over. Diana shot her a venomous look in return. There was something off about her that she couldn’t quite place her finger on. She didn’t look put together like she usually did.“I’m here to see Elias.” She retorted as she attempted to come in like she owned the place.Confused, Dakota placed a palm on her shoulder and pushed her backwards. “Are you lost? You have no business here.” The smirk on Diana’s face made her blood run cold. “My business is with Elias. Besides, I have every right to be here…even more than you.” From the moment her sister had darkened Elias’ doorsteps, Dakota had already suspected she was up to something.“What are you talking about?” She questioned suspiciously. “You’ll find out soon enough, dear sister,” Diana answered vaguely with a sly smile. As she stared past Dakota, the smile slowly faded from her

“He wasn’t done taking my pictures,” Dakota stated in a bored tone. Frankly, she was mildly relieved the enthusiastic photographer had been sent away. She didn’t know how much longer she could bear the constant flashes in her face. Her mother slowly approached her. “Well, would you look at that? You think you’ve won, haven’t you?” Dakota threw a scathing look at the woman she had loved as a mother. Her blood boiled as she thought about the possibility that her foster mother had been keeping her birth mother’s existence a secret. She had truly underestimated the extent of her cruelty. “You might have managed to fool your father, but not me. I know you’re up to something.” Dakota rolled her eyes. “I think all that Botox must have gone to your head. You’re spewing nonsense.” “You have no shame, getting married to the man your sister had her eyes on. You couldn’t have looked more desperate than you do now.” Her mother hissed in contempt. “Contrary to what you think, the worl

Without thinking, Dakota reached for the handle. Elias’s hand closed around hers, halting her. “What are you doing?” She faltered, confusion flickering across her face. Had she really meant to open the door? Carter could be close by and she had almost acted recklessly which would have ruined their chances of staying undetected by him. This was just the first bakery out of the ten bakeries in Greenville, so it was very unlikely they would find her real mother-if she was even alive-that easily. Easy was suspicious. Easy didn’t just happen for her. “I’m sorry. I… I wasn’t thinking. Carter could be here right now and it would complicate things if he finds us here too.” She pressed a hand to her forehead, frustration simmering beneath her skin. If she wanted to prove she could handle this on her own, she needed to get a grip on her emotions. Elias cupped her chin with a finger. “I’m not worried about Carter, love. I’m worried about you,” Heat crept up to her cheeks at his touch. “A

Elias took a slow breath as he looked over the photos. He wasn’t surprised by what he saw—deep down, he’d expected it. But she wouldn’t. She would be devastated. The private investigator had done a meticulous job, especially with the limited time. Of course, money had a way of making things happen.Success didn’t come from playing nice. He worked hard to make things happen, and getting to the top required more than just playing by the rules. People called him cold, ruthless—even heartless—accusing him of crushing anyone that stood in his way. But he hadn’t built his company, Persson Holdings from nothing by worrying about opinions. At the end of the day, results were what mattered.He studied the photos one last time and returned them to the brown envelope his PI had brought them in. Dakota wouldn’t be pleased he had gone behind her to make his own investigation but he didn’t regret it and couldn’t quite figure out why she didn’t want his help. He had the resources and it certainly wo