All Chapters of My Ex-Fiance's Cousin is My Baby's Father: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Before Damon could return to the living room, Lyra stopped him with a question she immediately regretted.“Do you find me attractive?”Damon turned back toward the guest bedroom.For a moment, neither of them spoke.His brows pulled together. “Why are you asking me that?”Lyra lowered her eyes, ashamed of how desperate she sounded.“Forget it.”“I don’t think I can.”“Of course you can.” A bitter laugh escaped her. “You don’t even know me.”She sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped her arms around herself.Only hours ago, she had believed she was loved. She had been excited to wear her wedding dress and promise her future to Vito.Now she knew he had only proposed because of her inheritance.Worse, the stepsister Lyra had trusted all her life had helped him deceive her.“Everything I believed in disappeared tonight,” she whispered. “The man I was supposed to marry doesn’t love me. My own sister was in his bed, laughing at me.”Damon’s expression hardened, but he remained outside the

Less than twenty-four hours after meeting Gail, Damon Blackwood had already placed himself between Lyra and the elevator doors.Lyra stared at the message on her phone.Your proposal meeting has been transferred to the executive floor. Mister Damon Blackwood will personally conduct the interview.Personally.That single word told her everything.Damon was suspicious.He had studied Gail’s blue eyes, asked her age, and warned Lyra that he would not let her disappear again.Now he had taken control of a meeting that was supposed to be with Blackwood Corporation’s public relations director.This was no longer only about business.Lyra slipped her phone into her bag and looked up at the glass building towering over her.She had known Blackwood Corporation belonged to Damon’s family when she submitted her proposal weeks ago. She simply had not expected to see Damon during her short assignment, especially after avoiding him for six years.Now he was the one deciding whether she received it.

Chapter Six: The Question She FearedLyra had spent six years protecting one secret.Now Damon was determined to uncover it.By the time she returned to Blackwood’s Palace Hotel after their meeting, she could barely remember the journey. She entered the suite, locked the door, and looked around.The room was empty.Wendy had taken Gail to the playground while Lyra was at Blackwood Corporation.Good.Lyra needed time to think.She leaned against the door and closed her eyes.Damon had already noticed Gail’s blue eyes. He knew her age, and he had seen how nervous Lyra became whenever he mentioned her daughter.Now Lyra would be working with him.The exclusive profile could keep her beside Damon for days or even weeks. How long would it take before his suspicion turned into an investigation?Knowing Damon, it might have already begun.Lyra pulled out her phone and called Wendy.“Come back to the suite and bring Gail.”Wendy immediately noticed the tension in her voice.“What happened?”“

One month.That was how long Lyra needed to protect Gail, secure her career, and keep Damon from proving the truth.After Claire left that morning, Lyra finally answered Damon’s message.Gail is not part of my assignment. If we work together, you will keep your questions about her away from the office.Damon replied almost immediately.Come to Blackwood Corporation. We’ll discuss the terms in person.Lyra had wanted to refuse, but she knew she could not avoid him for the entire month. She went to his office and signed the thirty-day contract.Before she placed her signature on the final page, she looked directly at Damon.“Our work must remain professional. You will not question me about Gail during interviews or company meetings.”Damon studied her for a long moment.“Fine.”“You promise?”“I won’t question you about Gail while you’re working.”The careful wording made Lyra uneasy.He had agreed to keep Gail away from their work.He had not agreed to stop looking for answers.Now, as

Damon had promised Gail another visit.Lyra had hoped he would forget.The following afternoon, Damon sent her a message.I owe Gail another trip to the playground. There’s a public park near your new hotel. Wendy can stay with us the entire time.Lyra stared at the screen.After their confrontation the night before, allowing Damon near Gail felt dangerous. He had already asked how soon after disappearing Lyra had learned she was pregnant.He was getting too close to the truth.Before Lyra could refuse, Gail noticed Damon’s name on the screen.“Is that Damon?”Lyra locked the phone.“He wants to take you to the playground.”Gail’s face brightened. “Can I go?”Lyra looked into her daughter’s hopeful blue eyes.Damon had promised not to frighten Gail or use her to force an answer from Lyra. So far, he had kept that promise.He had also been gentle and respectful whenever he was near the little girl.Lyra could not punish Gail because she was afraid.“You can go for thirty minutes,” she