Alle Kapitel von HIS SECRETARY'S SECRET : Kapitel 81 – Kapitel 90

Damian PovThe paternity test took six days. Six days of hell where I couldn't eat or sleep or think about anything except the possibility that I had a daughter I never knew about. Six days of Bella not answering my calls. Six days of imagining every worst case scenario.On day six my lawyer called. "The results are in. Can you come to my office."I drove there going twenty over the speed limit. Marcus was waiting with the envelope. He handed it to me without saying anything. I ripped it open with shaking hands and read the results.Probability of paternity: 0%. Damian Roberts is excluded as the biological father.I read it three times to make sure I understood. I was not the father. Lily was not my daughter. Vanessa was lying. Relief flooded through me so intense I had to sit down."She was scamming you" Marcus said. "We did some digging after you took the test. She's done this before. She targets wealthy men who were at conferences or business events. Shows them photos that might or

Damian PovBella had been at a hotel for a week and I still didn't know which one. She texted me updates about Nathan twice a day like clockwork. Morning update: Nathan had oatmeal for breakfast and played with his blocks. Evening update: Nathan took two naps today and his fever is completely gone. The texts were informative and cold. No emotion. No indication of how she was feeling or what she was thinking.I respected her request for space even though it was killing me. Every morning I woke up hoping she would text something personal. Every night I went to bed disappointed. I wanted to drive around to every hotel in the city until I found them but I knew that would just push her further away.My therapist Dr. Williams said this was healthy. "Bella needs to process everything without your influence" she explained during our session. "She needs to figure out what she wants independent of your wants. This separation is good for both of you."It didn't feel good. It felt like dying slow

Damian PovTwo weeks after Bella went to the hotel she finally agreed to meet me. She texted "Can we talk? In person? There's a café on Main Street. Tomorrow at two if you're free."I texted back immediately. "I'll be there."I spent the next twenty four hours anxious and hopeful and terrified. Dr. Williams told me to go into the meeting with no expectations. "Listen to what Bella needs" she said. "Don't try to convince her of anything. Just listen and accept whatever she decides."I showed up at the café fifteen minutes early and ordered coffee I didn't drink. I sat at a corner table and watched the door. At exactly two PM Bella walked in. She looked different. Her hair was shorter. She was wearing jeans and a simple shirt. No makeup. She looked relaxed in a way I hadn't seen in months."Hi" she said. She sat down across from me. "Thanks for meeting me.""Of course" I said. I wanted to reach across the table and hold her hand but I kept my hands wrapped around my coffee cup instead.

Damian Pov The penthouse felt like a museum after Bella and Nathan left. Everything was exactly where it had always been but none of it felt like mine anymore. The nursery sat empty with Nathan's mobile hanging over the crib that would only get used every other week. The kitchen had food for one person instead of a family. The bedroom echoed with silence instead of Bella's breathing or Nathan's baby sounds through the monitor.I lived alone for the first time in months and the quiet was suffocating. I used to crave silence when Nathan was crying or Bella was upset or the chaos was too much. Now I would give anything to hear Nathan's laugh or Bella humming while she cooked or any sound that proved I wasn't completely alone.Dr. Sarah Williams increased my therapy sessions to three times a week. She said I needed the extra support during the separation. She also started making me journal every single day about my feelings. "Write whatever comes to mind" she instructed during our sessio

Damian PovI was making breakfast when my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number. I almost ignored it but something made me check. The message said "Congratulations on your new beginning. Sometimes losing everything is the best thing that can happen. It forces you to rebuild better. I hope you're doing well. -Karen"My stomach dropped. Karen was texting me. From prison. Or maybe not from prison. Maybe she was out. Maybe the system failed and released her early. Maybe she was somewhere close watching me.I immediately screenshot the message and called my lawyer Marcus. He answered on the second ring."Damian what's wrong" he asked. "It's seven in the morning.""Karen is texting me" I said. I sent him the screenshot. "Is she out. Did they release her.""Let me check" Marcus said. I heard typing on his computer. "According to the prison records she's still serving her sentence. She's not scheduled for release for another six months.""Then how is she texting me" I asked."Con