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 04 No one in the car spoke. Derek gripped the phone so hard his knuckles went white. Rachel recovered first. “That only makes it more suspicious. She knew the main account would be checked, so she must have used another one. That painter could
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 03 [Yes. Good. Let the lawyer keep her here.] [She won’t leave Maisie. As long as the child is with me, she won’t disappear again.] I looked at Derek. He seemed to genuinely believe this was a choice. “No.” I didn’t bother explaining myself
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 02 The attending physician returned, interrupting us. “Derek, Erin, Maisie’s lung infection is worsening. We’re transferring her to an isolation ICU room immediately and starting plasma exchange.” He set a treatment plan on the table. “There’s a protein drug that may help target her
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 01 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,
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