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going to bring the children in here so they can see their father?”
    â€œI certainly am not. We’re leaving,” she decided.
    â€œAren’t you forgetting something?” Tiffani crossed her arms while holding on to her smug smile. “Your husband? I believe it’s his house. And after the blood test, don’t stray too far from the phone, the insurance companies will probably want to talk to you.”
    Madeline nearly wobbled out of her pumps.
    Tiffani sauntered up behind her like a lioness closing in on her prey. “If memory serves me correctly you have a lot to lose if he really is Russell. The house, the cars, the money. And no money means no fashion line,” Tiffani taunted.
    Tiffani’s words were like a flurry of surprise left hooks. Madeline tossed a look over her shoulder at her alleged husband. The faker still wore a deer-caught-in-headlights look in his eyes.
    â€œYou know. I’m starting to believe you just might be Russell. You always have had an uncanny way of ruining my life,” she said as she jerked open the door and stormed out.
    Everyone jumped when the door slammed behind her.
    â€œWow,” Shaw said. “She’s really a firecracker.” He moved over to Russell and slapped him hard on the back. “Sounds like you were really an asshole.”
    â€œAw. Don’t let her worry you,” Christopher said, as he came to stand beside Russell. “She’s no Girl Scout. Trust me. Tiffani called it right. She’s probably worried about losing her money—or rather your money. If you are Russell, my advice is to find a good lawyer, file for divorce and hope that she doesn’t beat you to it.” He laughed.
    Russell shook his head. “She’s hurt and it sounds like it’s my fault.”
    The room fell silent.
    â€œIs there anyway I can…see my children?”
    â€œSure, sure. Wait until you see how much Russ has grown. I tell you, everyone says he’s the spitting image of you.” Christopher hooked an arm around his brother’s neck and led him toward the door.
    â€œWait. I just want to see them…from a distance. I don’t want to upset Madeline any more than she already is. At least not until the test comes back.”
    â€œHey, I already know you’re my brother. I’d know you anywhere,” Christopher said.
    Russell pulled out of his embrace. “But I don’t know you.” The moment the words where out of his mouth he regretted them. Christopher’s pain was raw and open for anyone to see. “I’m sorry, but I just don’t remember any of you.”
    After a brief silence, Christopher’s magnanimous smile returned. “You will. I’m certain of it.”
    Russell wanted to believe him…
    It was hard to dispute he wasn’t who they claimed he was, when photos of him sat on nearly every shelf in the house. He followed his brother out onto the office balcony and he’d just caught glimpse of the top of a little girl’s head before she climbed into the back of a large silver SUV.
    Madeline leaned over, probably to connect the child’s seat belt before she quickly slammed the door. After she rushed to the driver’s side, she glanced back at the house and spotted Russell.
    Despite the distance between them, their eyes locked. His wife’s warning to stay away pulsed across the cold fall night as if she had shouted the words at him.
    But if the blood test proved he was Russell Stone she might as well get used to him. Because, there was no way he was going to stay away from his wife, or his kids. No way at all.

Chapter 5
    â€œM ommy, was that man really our daddy?” Ariel asked after twenty minutes of silence.
    Madeline started to answer with an emphatic “no,” but what if the blood test made her out to be a liar? What then? “I don’t know, baby,” she settled on saying.
    â€œYou mean, he could be?”