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In disgust and mortification Merry took the money she was offered because she felt she had no better alternative and she had to live until she found another job But that was the day the first seed of her hatred had been sown…

CHAPTER THREE

‘FERGUS ASKED ME where he should take you toht back into the present with that surprising announceht that was a bit wet of him I mean, doesn’t he have any ideas of his own? But obviously he wants you to enjoy yourself’

A bit wet sounded all right to Merry, as still reeling froel’s ely iainst you and becaal sharks

‘I suggested a trip to the seaside for you and Elyssa I know you love the beach,’ Sybil us does like children’

‘Yes,’ Merry agreed quietly, scooping Elyssa off the older wo what it would have been like to have a father for her daughter Would he have helped out with their child? Taken a real interest? She suppressed the thought, knowing it probably caroithout a father She had, however, visited her father once, but his enraged betrayed wife had been present as well and the visit had been a disaster Her father had only asked to see her on that one occasion and then never again

The nexther hair and took the ti heron skinny jeans and a vibrant cerise tee, she dug her feet into coain with Elyssa anchored on her hip when the phone rang Breathless, she tucked it under her chin while she lowered her daughter to the hearth rug

‘Yes?’

‘I’m in the office,’ her aunt told her curtly ‘Elyssa’s father is here de to see her I’ll keep him here with me until you come’

Shock and disbelief engulfed Merry in a dizzy tide She snatched Elyssa back off the rug and wondered frantically what to do with her daughter while she dealt with Angel, because she didn’t want him to see her Her el travelling down to Suffolk just to see the child he had once done everything possible to avoid and deny It was true that since he had been informed of Elyssa’s birth he had hter, but Merry had seen no good reason to cater to his natural hu more to do with him

After all, as soon as Angel had learned that she was pregnant he had brought his lawyers in to handle everything They had drawn up a legal agreement by which Merry was paid a ridiculous a as she kept quiet about her daughter’s parentage Merry currently paid the money into a trust she had set up for Elyssa’s future, reckoning that that was the best she could do for her daughter

She left the cottage with Elyssa tucked into her well-padded pushchair, her toy bunny clutched between her fingers Walking into the rescue centre, she saw a long black liht of it Angel didn’t flaunt the Valtinos wealth but even at the office she had seen occasional glimpses of a world and lifestyle far different froraarreat expense and he thought nothing of it because fro else

She pushed the buggy into the barn, where the kennel staff hung out when they took a break ‘Will you watch Elyssa forwos of coffee

‘Can we take her out of the pram and play with her?’ one of them pressed hopefully

A sreed, hastening out again to head for the rescue centre office

What on earth was Angel doing here? And how could she face hiain made her feel queasy with bad memories? They had last met the day she’d tracked hinant Those liquid-honey eyes had turned black-diamond hard, his shock and distaste stark as a banner