“It’s been a pleasure. She’s an amazing young woman. She’s a lot like her father.”
I freeze at her words, and Pen’s hand tightens on mine.
Only Gabriel and Leah know the whole truth. I haven’t wanted it to affect my family’s relationship with my daughter. Not that I think it would, but—she’s my daughter, even if not by blood.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” I say.
Pen’s brows furrow.
“About Darra and me.”
“Elijah, I know you and Darra had issues. You don’t need to explain,” she says.
“I wish it was only that.” I look across at her before turning away and running a hand through my hair. I inhale before turning back, my eyes locking with Pens.
“I married Darra because I didn’t want to bethatman.”
Pen moves her chair closer and rests a hand on my bicep. The muscles flex under her fingers. It’s always the same when she touches me.
“You married her because she was pregnant. You would never have done what my father did and walk away from your child. That’s not who you are.” She smiles as she grips myarm once more. “Whatever happened in your marriage, you will always have Lottie. She’s the best of both of you.”
I let out a sharp bark, making Pen jump.
“That’s what I thought. That I was doing the right thing. I could never turn my back on my child. Darra knew that.”
I lock eyes with Pen and see as realisation dawns.
“Lottie isn’t my daughter, Pen. At least not biologically.”
CHAPTER 46
PEN
Istare at Elijah, wondering if I heard him correctly.
I remain silent and let him speak.
“That Christmas, Darra expected me to propose. I told her I didn’t love her, that I wanted to concentrate on my swimming and our business, and I ended our relationship.”
The blood freezes in my veins, the hairs on my arms standing up.
“Darra played me. I’d always been super careful with contraception, but as she pointed out, it’s never one hundred per cent.”
I put a hand to my mouth as my stomach roils, and I swallow against the obstruction in my throat.
“But you had a DNA test,” I say. “Jaxson told me.”
I’d always questioned in the back of my mind, Darra’s convenient pregnancy, but I’d never been able to prove it.
“A friend of her father’s switched out the DNA sample or simply paid him to lie. But it was forged, that much I do know.”
A trickle of sweat runs down my back.
“If you aren’t Lottie’s biological father, who is?”
Elijah shrugs.
“I don’t know, and I don’t particularly care.” He covers my hand on his arm with his. “The moment she was placed in my arms, she became my daughter. And now she finally is. As part of our divorce settlement, Darra allowed me to adopt her. Lottie is now officially my child.”
