Secret Mission Turned Out to Be Fathering My Bestie’s Baby Chapter 07

Secret Mission Turned Out to Be Fathering My Bestie’s Baby Chapter 07

I’d been living on a private island off the coast of Belize for six months.

The cancer diagnosis had been a false alarm.

But that week of dread-of not knowing-had been real.

I’d planned to carry it alone, not wanting them to worry. I’d even thought about how to soften the blow if I

didn’t make it.

All of it had been a waste of sentiment.

Someone took the book off my face. Sunlight hit my eyes.

I sat up when I recognized the man standing over me.

“You didn’t say you were coming this weekend.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Don’t want me here? Should I leave?”

I couldn’t answer, so I changed the subject.

“Have you eaten?”

He smiled helplessly. “No, and now I’m hungry. Make me some pasta.”

I nodded and stood up.

I headed to the kitchen. He took my spot, opened my book, and started reading.

Liam Foster was my underclassman in college, someone I’d later recruited to the company. We worked

together for two years before I found out he was a trust-fund kid.

He’d given me a ten-thousand-dollar cash gift as a wedding present.

It shocked me.

“Just a thank-you for looking out for me all those years,” he’d said.

When I got transferred, he insisted on coming with me.

“I’m your mentee, Emma. I go where you go.”

He’d noticed my stomach pain and made me an appointment behind my back, driving me to the hospital himself.

When the doctor said the tumor was likely malignant, I kept my composure. He was the one who went red-eyed.

“Emma, why do you push yourself so hard?”

He brought me back to the city, found the best specialists for a second opinion, and when the all-clear came,

he pulled me into a hug.

He didn’t say anything.

I could no longer pretend not to know.

“Liam, I’m married.”

His smile was bittersweet, laced with self-deprecating humor.

“I know. I was at your wedding. You and Nathan were high-school sweethearts. I’m just the kid brother. I don’t even qualify as a homewrecker.”

I laughed despite myself.

He said he was quitting his job to go back and run the family business.

He was doing it for me-to make it easier for me to step away.

That day I’d been watching my mother’s video, he’d called.

“You’re back in the city, aren’t you?”

He’d heard the crack in my voice and come right over. He helped me get out of the country.

He said he hadn’t been able to sleep that night. His heart had been racing for no reason, like something was

wrong.

“The universe gave me a sign. Otherwise, you’d never have asked me for help, right?”

I nodded.

If he hadn’t shown up, I might have chosen a different kind of disappearance.

He saved me.

When the pasta was done, I called him, but he’d fallen asleep.

Dark circles shadowed his eyes.

I let him sleep. When he woke, I made him a fresh bowl.

He devoured it.

“Sorry, I’ve been swamped lately.”

Watching his tired but contented smile, I felt a pang of tenderness.

“Nathan came looking for me again. He seems convinced I know where you are. Maybe he has some kind of

sixth sense too?”

My mood sank.

I thought all night.

“This time, I’m going back with you. I need to finalize this divorce.”