bChapter /bb63 /b

-CELINE-

As we drove into the city, I tried to think of a way to lose Baron without raising suspicion. It wasn’t just about protecting my secret about this whole situation felt dangerous

But I had to know what this person knew about Caesar’s father, I had to protect my son.

vmone, something.

“Erhm…Baron,” I said as we approached the city, “could we stop at that cal first?” I pointed to a busy coffee shop on the corner. “I’m feeling a bit lightheaded. Ishould probably eat something before running my errands

Baron nodded, pulling up to the curb. “Of course. bWould /byou like me toe in with you?”

“No need,” said quickly. b” /bjust be ba /bminute. Could you… could you wait in the car? I don’t want to cause a scene if someone recognizes me from the tabloids.”

He looked hesitant but agreed. “Tl be right here if you need me.

I entered the café, ordered a coffee to keep up appearances, and then slipped out the bback /bexit into an alley. Checking my watch.. 12:10 hailed a cab and directed it to Central Park.

My heart pounded as I approached Bethesda Fountain. The area was crowded with tourists, families, and locals enjoying the pleasant day. I scanned the faces, searching for anyone who might be waiting for me.

“Miss Brown

I spun around to find ba /bmiddle–aged bman /bin a suit standing behind me. There was nothing remarkable about himaverage height, thinning hair forgettable features. But his eyes were sharp, calcting.

“Who are you?” I asked, taking a step back. “How do you know about my son’s father?”

The man smiled, though it didn’t reach bhis /beyes. “Let’s just say I work for someone with a vested interest in your situation.”

“What situation?” I demanded. “What do you want?”

“It’s not what I want,” he replied calmly. “It’s what Mrs. Reid wants

My blood turned to ice. “Mrs. Reid! Hunter’s mother?”

He nodded. “She believes there’s more to your story than you

you’ve shared. And she’s willing to pay handsomely for the truth.”

I felt sick. “I don’t know what you’re talking about ”

ou?” He pulled out an envelope and handed it to me. “Open it.”

“Don’t you?”

With trembling fingers, I did as he asked. Inside were photos–old ones, from three years ago, me entering a hotel. Me leaving the next morning, looking disheveled.

And worst of all, a blurry but recognizable photo of bthe /bman I’d spent the night with

Hunter.

“No,” I whispered, the pieces falling binto /bce“This is impossible.”

“Is it?” The bman’s /bsmile widened. “Mrs. Reid had her suspicions when:

saw your son. The resemnce is… striking”

I shook my bhead/b, trying to clear it. “Hunter doesn’t remember me. He wouldn’t have forgotten if w…

b“/bAlcohol can do strange things to the memory,” the man said with a shrug. “As can certain substances that might ve been added to bis drink?

My mind raced back to that night. The club. The drinks that tasted slightly off. Waking up alone, with only fragments of memory remaining

“What does Mrs. Reid want?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

“She wants you gone,” he replied bluntly. “Away from her son, away from the Reid family. Take your child and disappear. She’s prepared to offer you two million dors to ensure you never contact Hunter again.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “And if I refuse?”

“Then these photosb, /balong with a paternity test she’s already arranged, will find their way to Hunter, And the press. He leaned closer, his voice lowering

“Think about it, Ms. Brown, Do you really want your son growing up in the spotlight? Labeled as the illegitimate heir to the Reid fort Fought bover /blike a piece of property?”

Tears stung my eyes. “Hunter would never…

“Hunter Reid is a businessman first and foremost,” the man cut bin/b. “Once he knows the truth, he’ll fight for custody And with his resources well, let’s bjust /bsay your chances aren’t good.”

I clutched the envelope, my mind spinning. “I need time to think

“You have twenty–four hours,” he said, handing me a business card. “Call this number with your decision. Two million dors for your silence and disappearance. Or a public scandal that will change your son’s life bforever/b.”

He turned to leave, then paused. “Oh, and Miss Brown? Mrs. Reid is watching. If you try to tell Hunter about our conversation, the deal is off. And the photos go public immediately.”

With that, he walked away, leaving me standing alone by the fountain, the envelope clutched in my trembling hands.

bI /blooked down at the photos again, studying the blurry image of Hunter from three years ago.

Could it be true? Could Hunter be Caesar’s father? I thought I was imagining things, The timing matched. And the resemnce everyone bhad /bmented on it.

But if Hunter bwas /bCaesar’s father, why didn’t he remember me? And why would Mrs. Reid want to keep bus /bapart if Caesar was her grandson?

Unless… unless she thought I would trap Hunter deliberately. That was using Caesar to get to the Reid fortune.

I sank onto a nearby bench, overwhelmed. fnb24d This update is avable on FindN0vel/fnb24d

What was I going to do? If took the money and disappeared, I would be protecting Caesar from a media frenzy band /ba potential custody battle.

But I’d also be denying him the chance to know his father. And I’d be leaving behind whatever was developing between Hunter and me.

If I refused and stayed, Mrs. Reid would expose everything. Hunter would know the truth about Caesar About me, Would he believe was not sure about him being the father? That I wasn’t trying to use his son to get to his money?

My phone buzzed with a text from Baron: “Where are byou/bb? /bI’ve been looking everywhere!”

And then another, from Hunter: “Baron says you disappeared. Call me NOW.”

I wiped away my tears and stood up, slipping the envelope into my purse. I needed to get back, to figure out what to do.

But one thing was certain–I couldn’t tell Hunter the truth. Not yet. Not until understood exactly what was dealing with

As I walked toward the bpark /bexit to hail a cab, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.

b15:00 /bbFN/bb, /bb1 /bAog Go

Mrs. Reid’s warning echoed in my mind. She was watching And she held my future…and Caesar’s. In her perfectly manicured