I had no intention of entertaining him. He'd made his contempt clear; I had no desire to be tangled up in his world any longer than necessary.

Before he could respond, a honeyed voice floated from inside.

"Denys, darling, don't be so hard on her." Maureen appeared in the doorway, all wounded innocence. "She's being so kind, coming all this way to help me."

The implication dripped from every syllable—as if I were some desperate creature, groveling for her approval.

I didn't bother correcting her.

I walked past them both and extended my wrist to the family physician. "Make it quick. I have a child to get back to."

The doctor had just raised the needle when Maureen suddenly lurched to her feet.

"Oh!" She let out a theatrical gasp, stumbling—no, lunging—straight toward me.

Instinct took over. I sidestepped.

She adjusted mid-fall, throwing herself toward the coffee table instead. Her elbow cracked against the sharp corner, and she crumpled with a wail, tears streaming instantly.

"Sister!" Her voice was pure wounded betrayal. "Why did you push me?!"

Denys was already moving, his long strides eating up the distance. I stepped back reflexively, certain he was coming for me—

And then my collar pulled loose.

The top button gave way, revealing the dark red birthmark just below my collarbone.

The room went deathly still.

I watched the color drain from Denys's face. His eyes locked onto that mark like it was a ghost rising from the grave. Every muscle in his body went rigid.

"It's you." The words came out fractured, disbelieving. "It's really you."

He seized my wrist—not grabbing this time, but gripping, like I might dissolve if he let go. His fingers dug in hard enough to bruise, but his eyes—his eyes were wild with something I couldn't name. Shock. Recognition. And beneath it all, a desperate, almost feverish hope.

"Five years ago. That woman—" His voice cracked. "It was you."

I tried to wrench free, but his hold was iron. Maureen scrambled up, ready to throw herself between us—

Denys shifted.

One smooth movement, and he was shielding me. His back became a wall between us.

Maureen stumbled forward, grasping at empty air, and hit the floor.

"Denys!" Her mask slipped, revealing something ugly beneath. "What are you doing? She's nobody—a bastard child! How could you humiliate me for her?"

Denys didn't release his grip. He didn't look at Maureen. His voice cut through the tension like a blade.