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He brushed past the nurse and flung open the door Tessa looked up fro clothes into a small suitcase She was dressed and ready to leave, but Christopher was nowhere in sight

Panic shot through him like a bullet "Where's my son?"

She blinked "In the nursery, of course" Calm and composed

"I want to see him Now"

She buzzed the nurse's station Tessa would never deny Chase his son, but they needed to get a few things clear right now She couldn't be around hiht about their future "You can see hi over her next words "But I need some more time Alone" His face drained of color "I think it's best that we don't see each other for a little while And that includes—"

"Don't even say it!" Chase cut in, seeing red In the space of a heartbeat, his patience snapped "Was this—" he waved the paper "—supposed to ether? Offering me a scrap of paper instead of my son? I'm Christopher's father, dammit!"

His rage stunned her "Cal out of control"

"Woman, you haven't seen , brandishing the certificate "This still makes him a bastard"

She gasped and back-stepped, looking as if he'd hit her "What!"

"You heard me You chose to h times for you to know exactly how I feel about you I love you"

Her eyes glossed and she blinked rapidly "You love the mother of your son"

"How the hell can you stand there and say that?"

"How can I ever be sure it isn't true?" she cried He was a madman at just the implication that he'd be parted from his son What was she supposed to think?

A e as they pinned her, raked her from head to toe She'd never seen him like this and remembered what he'd said about his te over her, his voice deceptively soft and lethal

"I've been patient Goddamn noble I loved you so much it never mattered what I wanted Well, I've done it your way, Tessa Done as best for you long enough!" He crumbled the paper in his fist "Now I do what's best for my son"

"Chase, wait!"