When I was five months pregnant, Derek Weston sent his beautiful personal assistant to me with an envelope of cash. There wasn’t even enough to cover a consultation at a legitimate clinic. She told me Derek thought the pregnancy was affecting our intimacy, and that I should take the money and get rid of the baby.
I fled Chicago.
Six years later, Derek donated enough to a children and family aid center to build a new housing wing and fund its operations for years. My daughter and I were living there through its work-housing program; I was temping in the cafeteria. The program didn’t cover meals.
Maisie was trembling with hunger, her small hand reaching for half a grilled cheese sandwich someone had left on a tray.
I blinked hard and caught her hand.
“Just wait a little longer, baby. Mommy will buy you some bread after work.”
Someone behind me called my name.
“Erin Collins?”
I turned.
Derek stood a few steps away, looking down at me, his expression devoid of warmth.
And then, all at once, a voice flooded my mind.
[She’s alive. She’s really alive. That child is mine, isn’t she?]
[Why are they dressed like this? Why is my daughter picking through other people’s leftovers?]
I stared at Derek’s cold face, certain I was hallucinating.
He looked at me, his jaw clenched.
“Why are you here? What happened to the money I sent you?”
His voice was ice, but the thoughts crashing through his head were chaotic.
[Did she give it all to that painter?]
[I want to hold her. I can’t. She’ll push me away. Damn it, what am I even supposed to say?]
Maisie clutched my leg, peeking out from behind me.
“Mommy, is he the bad daddy who gave you one thin envelope and didn’t want us anymore?”
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 24 Rachel didn’t make another move right away. She knew Derek was investigating her, and any new action could leave a trail. Instead, she went to Margaret Weston. Three days later, Margaret arrived at the hospital with two family-law attorneys. I had just finished
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 23 “She will after she’s discharged.” He held the bags out to me. “I don’t know what she likes. The clerk said this size should fit a five-year-old.” I didn’t take them. He lowered his voice. “Consider it a supplement to the silver bracelet.
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 22 “Her travel records—” “Driver logs, plane tickets, hotel receipts, photos, text messages. Give me one piece of evidence.” Rachel’s face went white. “Back then, you said you never wanted to hear her name again.” “Now I do.” Derek closed the file. “If you
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 21 That night, Derek contacted the drug company directly and arranged for Maisie’s medication to be billed to his personal account, bypassing both the corporation and the foundation. When Rachel found out, she raised her voice in his office for the first time. “Personal
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 20 “This isn’t new. You’re just now starting to see it.” I knew the words would cut him. But I had been hurting for six years. I wasn’t about to soften the truth for his sake. Derek didn’t follow me inside. When I got
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 19 He released me at once, but his eyes remained fixed on me. “The foundation cut off payment. Why didn’t you tell me?” “And what would have happened if I had?” I asked. “You’d cancel meetings, fight with Rachel, and set up another account
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 18 I didn’t wait for Derek at the hospital. Once the foundation froze the payments, I reapplied for Medicaid, CHIP, and hospital charity care. Over the past few years, I had saved every pay stub, temporary housing document, and insurance paper. The hospital social
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 17 By the time Derek got outside, I was already on a CTA bus. He stood on the steps and watched the doors hiss shut. In the end, he didn’t give chase. [Rachel kept her waiting in the lobby for forty minutes, and I
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 16 “I was told the personal aid came with no conditions.” “The personal account was converted into foundation funding. That was not a hospital decision.” I didn’t take my anger out on the doctor. He had already contacted the Medicaid and CHIP review offices
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 15 Derek stopped walking. Rachel was stating facts. Without established paternity and a court order, he was just a stranger paying a child’s bills. But he also knew that if he forced me to sign now, I would only take Maisie farther away. “I’ll
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