Chapter 2

My face went cold.

"No. He's in the middle of class. You are NOT going down there."

Cheryl rolled her eyes.

"Class? Class matters more than his real parents?"

"He's meeting his birth mother today. End of discussion."

They grabbed their keys and headed for the door.

I chased them out and cut them off on the sidewalk.

"Hunter is MY son."

"That sick baby of Jasmine's? Doctors said years ago he wouldn't make it. He's lying in a sterile ICU pod at the Ferrante estate right now."

Because Julian and Jasmine never flew to Switzerland to "recover." They dumped a dying baby on me and ran. That way, if anything happened, they had someone to blame.

Julian opened his mouth. Then Jasmine crumpled to the concrete, clutching her chest, gasping.

Julian went white. He fumbled a bottle of nitro out of his jacket and shoved a pill under her tongue.

"Selena, you sick bitch. You know she's got a heart condition. Are you trying to trigger her?"

"Our son is perfectly healthy. You're standing here putting a curse on a five-year-old."

I didn't bother answering.

I just stood there, waiting for the tutor to walk Hunter out so I could grab my son and get the hell out of there.

Julian and Cheryl fussed over Jasmine like a pit crew.

Jasmine's eyes went red on command.

"I know I gave up my baby. I know Selena raised him for five years. I'm grateful. I am. But you can't just steal him. You can't even let me MEET him."

Cheryl shot me a look of pure disgust.

"You had your reasons back then, sweetie. Your sister's just selfish. She wants to keep him all to herself."

"Don't worry. Nobody's taking your son away."

Julian turned on me.

"You're only holding onto that kid because the Godfather named him next in line. But Jasmine's his birth mother. You can't change biology."

I stayed quiet.

Because it was obvious who actually cared about the heir title. And it wasn't me.

Julian pulled Jasmine tighter. Cheryl tapped his shoulder. They traded a look.

Julian softened his voice.

"Your sister's heart isn't great. Can you cut the drama and give her a break?"

I said "Sure" and meant none of it.

Once I cut the Sinclairs loose, Jasmine wouldn't exist to me.

Then Cheryl said the thing that split my chest wide open.

"Sweetheart. Your sister's heart is failing. We ran the panels. Yours is a perfect match."

"You're the older one. Time to step up—"

Julian jumped in. Sweet-talking now. Urgent.

"Selena. If Jasmine hadn't carried that baby for us—so YOU could hold your head up as a Ferrante wife—her heart wouldn't be shot. You OWE her. She gave you a son. You give her a heart. Fair trade."

I looked at him. At Cheryl. At Jasmine with her big wounded doe eyes.

Nails digging into my palms.

"Enough. Shut. Up."

Funny thing?

The reason the Sinclairs found me five years ago was because my heart matched Jasmine's. That's how they realized they'd grabbed the wrong baby from the hospital.

Blood doesn't mean a damn thing.

Julian played his last card.

"Look. You agree to donate—I marry you. Real ceremony. You'll be Mrs. Ferrante. I swear."

I laughed.

"Mrs. Ferrante? Julian, I've been Mrs. Ferrante for five years."

Jasmine shoved me back.

"Please. The Godfather? Julian's uncle? Julian hasn't seen him in years. And you expect me to believe you have?"

She looked at me like she wanted to carve my heart out with her bare hands.

I just shook my head. Locked eyes with Julian.

"Julian. Actually? You should probably start calling me Auntie."

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