My billionaire boyfriend’s mother walked into my Vermont farmhouse, placed a blank check on my kitchen table, and said, “Name your price. Then disappear before Adrian learns that child is his.”

“Someone did.”

Margaret stepped forward.

“And we have records showing exactly who received it.”

She opened the sealed case.

Inside were company documents, correspondence logs, and investigative reports.

She placed the first record on the table.

“This is the executive mailroom register from Vale Tower.”

Adrian leaned closer.

“Your certified letter arrived twenty-four months ago,” Margaret explained. “It was addressed personally to Adrian.”

She turned the page toward him.

He read the entry aloud.

“Received by C. Vale.”

Margaret nodded.

“Celeste Vale personally signed for it.”

Adrian stared at his