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CHAPTER ONE

ASHLEIGH knew so as soon as she entered her parents’ house on Friday evening after work

‘Mu the hall for her three-, nearly four-year-old son before turning back to heron? Where’s Lachlan?’

Gwen Forrester twisted her hands together, her usually cheerful features visibly contorted with strain ‘Darling…’ She gave a quick nervous s ‘Lachlan is fine…Your father took hio’

Ashleigh’s frown deepened ‘Then what on earth is the host’

‘I don’t quite kno to tell you this…’ Gwen took her daughter’s hands in hers and gave theentle squeeze

Ashleigh felt her heart begin to thud with alarm The last time she’d seen her mother this upset had been when she’d returned from London to deliver her bombshell news

Her heart gave another sickening thu halt Surely this wasn’t about Jake Marriott? Not after all this time…It had been years…four and a half years…

‘Mu me out Whatever’s the matter with you?’

‘Ashleigh…he’s back’

Ashleigh felt the cold streah her veins, her li over in panic

‘He called in a short while ago,’ Gwen said, her soft blue eyes co her concern

‘What?’ Ashleigh finally found her voice ‘Here? In person?’

‘Don’t worry’ Gwen gave her daughter’s hands another reassuring squeeze ‘Lachlan had already left with your father He didn’t see him’

‘But what about the photos?’Ashleigh’s stoht of the virtual gallery of photographs her parents had set up in the lounge roorandson’s life to date Then, as another thought hit her like a sledgehaasped, ‘Oh, my God, what about his toys?’

‘He didn’t see anything I didn’t let Jake past the hallway and I’d already done a clean-up after your father left with Lachlan’