Chapter 3

3.

The ones who arrived before the testing team were Dirk and his younger sister, Isabel James.

Isabel wore a long white dress, the picture of innocence and pitiful charm.

She hid behind Dirk, her eyes rimmed red, stammering, "Miranda… Mom said you… you think Dirk and I have something improper between us."

She choked on a sob, tears spilling as she accused me of shaming her.

"How could you think that of Dirk and me?"

"I got pregnant before marriage and had Fergus because I trusted the wrong man. It has nothing to do with Dirk. Please, don't misunderstand us."

"Fergus and Dirk can't be ruined by rumors like this. If you don't believe me, I'll take Fergus and leave."

Dirk wrapped an arm around her shoulder, aching for her, and roared at me, "Miranda Fox! Apologize to Isabel right now!"

"She's a single mother. How can you spread such an outrageous lie?"

I let none of their emotion sweep me along. Calmly, I said, "Then let's test your DNA and Fergus's."

Dirk's face went cold, his voice pushing back in anger. "This is absurd. Who ever heard of an uncle and a nephew getting a DNA test? Haven't you made enough of a fool of yourself for one day?"

Eight years of marriage, and I saw the guilt in him at a glance.

I watched him without a flicker, and asked evenly, "If Fergus isn't your son, what are you so panicked about?"

He seemed to lose his grip, his shout at me louder than before.

"Which eye of yours saw me panic? I'm angry, because you can't watch your mouth, because you're talking nonsense! You're impossible!"

I took his accusation in silence, my gaze drifting past to Isabel, standing behind him with her head bowed.

Dirk instantly stepped in to block my line of sight. "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing. Just thinking about how much Fergus looks like the two of you. Brother and sister."

I leaned deliberately on those last words, brother and sister. Dirk's brow knotted tight, and behind him Isabel broke into sobs.

"Miranda, what did I ever do to you, for you to treat me like this?"

"I know I shouldn't lean on my brother and Mom the way I do—a single mother who got pregnant before marriage. It's normal for you to resent me. But you can't let your dislike of me spill onto Dirk and Mom too. They've been so good to you. How can you bear it?"

Good to me?

While we were dating, Dirk really was good to me. Otherwise I never would have taken him in as a live-in husband.

The first year after the wedding, Dirk and my mother-in-law treated me well too.

But their kindness curdled the moment I gave birth to Tammy.

I looked at them with a cold smile and said quietly, "In the face of a lie, the mercy you're talking about is just cruelty on your part."

"Whether you like it or not, this DNA test is happening. I've already contacted a professional testing team."

I glanced at my watch.

"They should be here any minute."