CHAPTER 056. Handpicked By

loyal. It’s a transaction, Ryan, plain and simple. And you got a bad deal. I nearly had a heart attack the day you brought that girl home, the minute you got tangled up with that… that nobody. And now you’ve somehow managed to stoop even lower. Emily is a secretary, Ryan. Your secretary. You should be ashamed to even show your face in public. You’re so lucky she’s pregnant with your child. The minute that child comes out, we’re filing for custody.”

Ryan stares at her, feeling as if he’s looking at a stranger. He shakes his head. “Some people believe children come from somewhere in the sky. That angels handpick them and give them to people they deserve. I wonder what I did wrong up there to end up with someone like you.”

For a brief, rare moment, her mask slips. Hurt flashes across her face. But just as quickly, she composes herself, eyes hardening as she opens her mouth to respond. Before she can, the door swings open, and Emily walks in, holding an envelope.

She places it on Ryan’s desk, glancing between him and his mother. “… I just saw Julie. She handed me

this.”

“Julie?” Ryan says. “Where? Where did she go?” He’s on his feet, already halfway to the door.