Chapter 95
Adam's POV:
Amy finished her sentence, and Maya shot me a look before taking another bite of her pancake.
I scooped up some congee. "This is so good. Maya, just marry me already so I can die a happy man."
She picked up her fork with one hand and stuck her index finger in her ear with the other. Pretending she couldn't hear me.
Amy giggled.
After breakfast, Maya came out changed, purse in hand.
Amy and I were standing by the door waiting.
Maya held out a box of DayQuil. "Three times a day. Don't forget at lunch."
I looked at her with a slow smile, eyes lingering on her face.
She pulled her hand back. "Never mind then."
"Wait—I want it." I caught her wrist gently and took the box. "I need this. You taking care of me."
---
Downstairs, Maya pushed Amy toward me. "You're taking her to school."
No argument from me. "Maya. Lunch. I'll pick you up."
She didn't answer. Just grabbed her purse and headed for her car without looking back.
Amy's gaze landed on the black Aston Martin parked a few spots down. Her eyes went wide. She took off running, little legs pumping, headed straight for it.
I opened the door. "Get in."
She scrambled into the seat, swinging her legs with excitement.
Once I was in, she asked, "Daddy, how much does this car cost?"
I started the engine. "About six million."
"That's so expensive! I'm gonna have to work really hard when I grow up."
I smiled. "You want one?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
"When you get your license, I'll buy you one."
"Really?" She looked shy. "That's… a lot."
I reached over and ruffled her hair. "Amy, you're my daughter. Everything I have is yours."
She tilted her head. "Won't you have other kids?"
"I wouldn't say that." I glanced at her in the mirror. "You want a brother or sister?"
She made a face. "Daddy, you're getting ahead of yourself. You should focus on winning Mom over first."
"..."
This kid knows how to twist the knife.
---
At the daycare, I walked Amy to the entrance. A bunch of kids swarmed around her, chattering.
"Amy, was that your car? It's so cool!"
"My dad's," Amy said.
"Wait—you have a dad? I thought you didn't have a dad!"
Guilt hit me in the chest.
I crouched down and smiled at the kids. "Hi, everyone. I'm Amy's dad. Her mom usually does drop-off, so you probably haven't seen me before."
Amy huffed. "Of course I have a dad. I didn't get delivered by a stork."
"Amy, your dad's so handsome!"
She smiled a little. "Well, I'm this cute. He can't be that bad."
The kids nodded seriously.
A chubby little girl piped up. "Amy, when I grow up, I wanna marry your dad."
Amy shook her head. "No chance."
"Why not?"
"Because my dad's gonna marry my mom."
I felt something warm spread through my chest.
One of the teachers came over—a young woman with a clipboard. She looked at me, then at Amy, then back at me.
"Mr.…?"
"Sterling," I said, standing up. "Adam Sterling. Amy's father."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh. We haven't met before."
"My partner usually handles drop-off," I said. "But I'll be doing it more often now."
"That's… great." She was staring. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sterling."
I handed her my card. "If there's ever an issue with pickup or anything else, call me directly."
She took the card like it was made of gold. "Of course. Absolutely."
Amy tugged on my sleeve. "Daddy, I gotta go. Class is starting."
I bent down and kissed the top of her head. "Have a good day, sweetheart. I'll pick you up later."
"Okay. Bye, Daddy."
She ran inside with the other kids.
I watched her go, something tight in my throat.
My daughter.
Four years. Four fucking years I'd missed.
And Maya had done it alone.
---
Claire's POV:
I was crouched behind a tree outside the daycare, staring.
Adam Sterling. Dropping off a kid.
His kid.
My nails dug into the bark.
I'd heard the rumors. That he'd taken that woman to meet his family. To the Sterling estate.
Why?
Why would he choose a used-up single mom over me?
What did Maya Bennett have that I didn't?
I watched Adam get back into the car and drive off, my eyes tracking the taillights until they disappeared.
I saw him first. Three years ago. He's mine.
I was going to marry him. I was going to be a Sterling. I was going to live in that brownstone on Beacon Hill and never go back to scraping by.
And if anyone got in my way?
I'll make them regret it.
My phone buzzed.
Private investigator.
"Ms. Ashford, we found out who the father of Ms. Bennett's child is."
My hand tightened around the phone. "Who?"
"Ms. Ashford, transfer the agreed amount first. Then I'll tell you."
I didn't have the money. My bank account was down to three digits. Rent was due next week.
"Tell me first. Then I'll pay."
"Can't do that, Ms. Ashford. Policy. Pay first."
He hung up.
Fuck.
A stray cat darted past.
I grabbed a rock and hurled it.
Missed.
An old woman passing by stopped and glared at me. "What kind of person throws rocks at a cat? You got no heart at all. Nasty girl."
"Mind your own fucking business!"
The woman flinched at the venom in my eyes but didn't back down. She pulled out her phone. "I'm calling the police. You're disturbed."
Something snapped.
I lunged forward and grabbed the phone right out of her hand.
"Hey! Give that back—"
I threw it on the ground. Hard. The screen cracked.
Not enough.
I stomped on it. Once. Twice. Ground my heel into it until the glass splintered into pieces.
The old woman let out a wail. "My phone! You crazy—help! Someone help!"
People were starting to look.
Shit.
I turned and ran.