“Continue,” I say softly.
Mrs. Bellows collects herself. Then she looks up at both of us.
“Seeing Posey tonight, smiling like that, the affection you all share… well, I can’t keep quiet anymore.”
Cameron leans in, steady. “Go on.”
Her eyes glisten.
“Jason has been stealing. For years. It started with small things when he was a boy—his parents’ cash, valuable knickknacks—but it grew. Partnerships. Investments. Mr. Abernathy hushed it up, paid his debts, anything to keep it quiet. That’s why Jason was cut off. At first, he’d grovel to get back in their good graces, and they would give in. But then it would happen all over again.”
The words land like blows. My pulse roars in my ears. I knew it had to be something like that.
Mrs. Bellows dabs her nose, shaking.
“I’ve loved him like blood—but he’s not fit to raise a child. Not Posey. He’d squander the fortune she inherited, leaving nothing for her when she’s grown. Worse, I’m worried he’d mistreat or ignore her. And I couldn’t bear to see that happen to such a sweet girl.”
Beneath Cameron’s cool, controlled facade, I’m sure he must be stunned.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bellows,” he says. “I imagine how hard this is for you.”
She winces. “I didn’t want to tell you. I was hoping a smart man like you would find a way to use this information to keep custody of Posey. But at the same time, avoid blackening my Jason’s name…”
As if Jason’s name isn’t black enough,I think.
“I don’t think that will be possible,” Cameron says carefully. “The judge needs to know all the details you shared with us. Otherwise, Jason has a very real chance of getting custody of Posey.”
Her eyes swing to me. “Tara, is that true?”
“Yes,” I say softly. “Without your testimony—and any evidence you might have—Jason could win custody.”
Mrs. Bellows crumples onto the bench, head bowed. A moment later, she collapses into another wave of sobs.
Cameron puts his hand on mine.
Will Mrs. Bellows agree to testify?
Her answer could decide everything.
CHAPTER 45
TARA
“What do you think Mrs. Bellows is going to do?” I whisper to Cameron once we walk away from the housekeeper.
His jaw tightens. “I don’t know. Time will tell. Luckily the lawyer Radha found for me arrives tomorrow. We’ll launch our plan then.”
The weight of it presses on me.
“I won’t be here tomorrow. We shouldn’t have even risked being seen together tonight. And that picture TheNew York Timestook of us—it could be on the front page tomorrow…”
Cameron’s gaze locks on mine. “We did nothing wrong. And it won’t wreck us.”
I want to believe him.
“My friend Chloe invited me to sleep at her house tonight. They’re waiting outside for me now. I must leave.”
I take a step back, but he closes the space between us.
