She Has His Eyes, and He’s Marrying My Stepsister Chapter 03

Chapter 3: He Owns Everything

I didn’t tell him.

I put Ivy in her car seat, got behind the wheel, and drove away while he stood in the parking lot watching me. I didn’t breathe until we hit the highway.

That night, I lay awake listening to Ivy’s soft snoring and staring at the ceiling.

He knew. I’d seen it in his face. Killian Voss had never in his life let something go once he decided he wanted it.

And now he wanted the truth.

By morning, I’d convinced myself I was overreacting. He was getting married. He had a billion-dollar company and a perfect blonde fiancée. He’d told me to get rid of her. Why would he want her now?

I dropped Ivy off at kindergarten, kissed her forehead three times like always, and drove to the bakery.

Wren’s Rise. My little corner shop with the crooked blue sign. It wasn’t much. Some months I barely made rent. But it was mine, and I’d built it with flour-covered hands and four hours of sleep a night.

My best friend Maya was already there, tying her apron. She took one look at me and put down the coffee pot.

“Okay. What happened at the party? You look like you saw a ghost.”

“Worse.” I dropped my bag. “I saw Ivy’s father.”

Maya’s mouth fell open. She was the only person on earth who knew the truth. “No.”

“He’s marrying Sloane.”

“No.”

“And he saw Ivy. Maya, he looked at her and he knew.”

Before she could answer, the bell over the door jingled.

It was Mr. Patterson, my landlord. Sweet old man. He always paid for his muffin even when I told him not to. But today he wasn’t smiling.

“Wren, honey. I’m so sorry. I wanted to tell you in person.”

My stomach twisted. “Tell me what?”

“I sold the building. Last night. The buyer made an offer I couldn’t refuse. Three times what it’s worth.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “The new owner wants to meet you. He’s outside.”

“Last night?” Maya repeated slowly.

The bell jingled again.

And Killian Voss walked into my bakery like he owned it.

Because he did.

He looked around slowly. At the mismatched chairs. The chalkboard menu Ivy had drawn hearts on. The photo of her taped above the register, gap-toothed and grinning.

He stared at that photo for a long time.

“Nice place,” he finally said.

“Get out,” I whispered.

“That’s not how tenants usually talk to their landlord.”

“You bought my building? In one night?”

“Took about twenty minutes.” He turned to face me. “I wanted to make sure you couldn’t run again, Wren.”

Maya grabbed Mr. Patterson’s arm and pulled him toward the kitchen. “Let’s, uh, check on the ovens.”

Then it was just us.

“What do you want?” My voice shook. I hated that it shook.

He stepped closer. “I want a DNA test.”

“No.”

“Then tell me she’s not mine. Look me in the eye and say it.”

I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.

His jaw clenched so hard I heard it. “That’s what I thought.”

“You don’t get to do this.” Tears burned my eyes. “You don’t get to walk in here and act like you care. You made your choice five years ago.”

Something flickered across his face. Confusion. Real, genuine confusion.

“What choice?” he said. “What the hell are you talking about?”

My phone buzzed in my apron. Ivy’s school. My heart jumped. They never called.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Calloway? This is Ms. Reed from Sunnybrook. I’m just calling to confirm. Ivy’s father signed her out about forty minutes ago.”

The whole world tilted.

“Ivy doesn’t have a father on file,” I said slowly.

A pause. “He had paperwork. Legal documents. He said his name was Killian Voss.”

I lifted my eyes to the man standing in front of me.