Page 145 of Broken Destiny

“Yeah. I grew, like, ten inches since your wedding,” Lucas said with his chest thrust out.

“You remember? That’s great.” Harper smiled. Then his eyes shifted to Emma. “And who is this little one?”

“This is my baby sister,” Lucas said.

“I’m Emma. I am choo years old,” she announced.

I giggled softly at her attempt to pronounce her words correctly. When I looked up, I noticed Harper watching me with a frown. I mouthed,Later, and he nodded.

“Gosh! You’re almost a big girl there,” he said, turning back to Emma. “Have you guys had dinner?”

They both nodded.

“How about dessert?” he asked.

Their heads shook instantly.

Harper ordered desserts for the children from room service along with dinner for the rest of us.

Within minutes, staff arrived pushing a trolley filled with covered plates, bowls of ice cream, slices of cake, and drinks.

After everything was set out, Harper guided the children to the couch and put on cartoons to keep them entertained. Soon, bowls of ice cream and slices of cake sat in front of them while Geeta happily joined them with a slice of cheesecake.

Satisfied that everyone was comfortable, Harper walked over and joined me at the dining table.

“So,” he asked, “how is it being back in the city?”

I looked around the room before answering. “I’d forgotten how beautiful it is,” I said, cutting into the grilled salmon in front of me. “I’ve been away for almost four years now.”

“You miss it?”

“Terribly.”

“Planning on coming back?” he asked, chewing thoughtfully on his Chicken Florentine.

“I don’t know, to be honest. It’s complicated.”

He studied my face before asking the question I had been expecting.

“Is Emma Caleb’s daughter?”

I nodded.

There was no point in lying to him.

“Does he know?”

“Not yet.”

I lowered my eyes.

“How the heck did all of this happen?” he asked. “The last time I saw you, you guys were in love and happy. How did it end up like this?”

Before I realized it, the words began to pour out of me.

I told him everything—Jeremy, the kidnapping, Cole, Emma, the restaurant, Liam, and Caleb. I watched his eyes widen from time to time as he listened silently, never interrupting.When I finally finished, he exhaled slowly.

“When are you planning on telling him about his mother?” he asked.