Spencer had no idea he had a son.

Neither did Patricia.

For nine months Helen and I had kept this plain two-bedroom apartment entirely hidden from everyone tied to the Ashford name.

I glanced down at the formal summons in my purse, its bold black letters stark under the hallway light.

The quiet, steady rhythm of my new life was slipping out of my hands, being dragged back toward the family I’d spent an entire year getting away from.

I stood in the dark hallway, gripping the sealed envelope and listening to the baby breathe.