Chapter 1 - MY DAUGHTER
The metal serving tray struck the side of Dylan Mercer’s head with a flat, brutal clang.
He stumbled into the dining table.
Champagne glasses jumped.
One tipped over.
Brooke Palmer screamed and stepped backward.
Chloe Evans stood with both hands wrapped around the tray, chest heaving, eyes wet.
“You cheating bastard!”
Dylan straightened slowly, one hand pressed against his temple.
No blood.
Just shock.
Then anger.
“Are you insane?!”
Chloe threw the tray onto the table.
“You kissed her in front of me!”
Brooke moved instantly to Dylan’s side and hooked one arm through his.
That small gesture hurt more than the kiss.
Possession.
Not embarrassment.
Not apology.
Possession.
Brooke looked Chloe up and down in her fitted cream dress.
“He doesn’t want you.”
Chloe stared at Dylan.
“Say she’s lying.”
He said nothing.
Her stomach dropped.
Brooke smiled.
“Just leave.”
Then the restaurant doors opened.
A ragged man in an oversized dirty coat walked inside.
Staff moved toward him.
He barely noticed.
His eyes locked on Brooke.
“Brooke?”
She froze.
The smugness disappeared from her face as if someone had wiped it away.
The man rushed closer.
Messy gray hair.
Scruffy beard.
Cracked shoes.
Hands red from cold.
“My daughter.”
Brooke stepped backward.
“No.”
The man stopped.
Pain crossed his face.
Dylan looked from Brooke to the stranger.
“What?”
Chloe forgot to cry.
Dylan took Brooke lightly by the arm.
“Why did he call you his daughter?”
Brooke’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
The old man looked at her with exhausted dignity.
Then at Dylan.
Something else appeared in his expression.
Recognition.
Not of the man.
Of the name.
He whispered:
“Mercer.”
Dylan frowned.
“You know me?”
The old man gave a hollow laugh.
“No.”
Then he turned toward Chloe.
“But I know what your family does to women who ask the wrong questions.”
Every table around them went silent.
Chloe stared.
Dylan’s face hardened.
Brooke whispered:
“Dad, stop.”
Jacob Palmer looked at his daughter.
“You told them I was dead, didn’t you?”
May you like
Brooke went white.
And Chloe realized the affair was only the first lie in the room.
