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He didn’t blink, didn’t hesitate “Absolutely”

TWENTY-TWO

LAMBERT

Serena hadn’t slept in the sa hter too? My frustration withpart of that was because I couldn’t do anything about it

I’d taken Barlowe froinally profitable company to a old-standard for several drug lines But no s the company developed and secured FDA approval for under my leadership, I’d never be able to leave her

Not without fear the Barlowe family would cut me off

I couldn’t cement myself as a Cape Hill elite until my netas a spiderweb I wanted the security that I wouldn’t unravel if one strand was clipped

So, I stood outside the door to the guest bedroom Serena had claimed as hers, drank my whiskey, and stewed in my irritation It shouldn’t bother me We didn’t love each other anymore, but we’d stayed partners Yes, we’d both hadso disrespectful about how she shut rief over losing one

I was halfway to e

Unknown: I knoho you are, Michael Slattery

It stopped me in my tracks That name hadn’t been uttered in thirty-five yearsnot until last week Did David’s daughter think she could blackmail me after I’d already paid her fifteen million? Christ, the apple didn’t fall far froret—

My phone rang, the call coer on the screen to accept it

“Listen up,” I spat out, “because I’ to say this once—”

“Hello, Dad”

All the anger ininto suspicion This was a trick A voice actor or a computer application that sounded exactly like her because it couldn’t be Jillian My little girl was dead I’d accepted that awful truth, unlike Tiffany and Serena

“I’ to tell you,” the eerie, familiar voice continued, “I’ve done what you said I never could I started over with nothing and a a new life Just like you did—only better because I’ it at the expense of others”

“You’re not her,” I snapped