The storm came two nights after the gala.
Not the kind with rain.
The kind with headlines.
Nova woke up to Liam pacing the bedroom, his phone glowing in his hand, his face carved in fury.
“What happened?” she asked, sitting up.
He didn’t answer. He just turned the screen toward her.
It was a news article.
From one of those gossip sites that always smelled like scandal.
“Blackthorne Scandal Unfolds: Secret Daughter of Rival Family Exposed?”
And She’s Raising His Grandchild.
Below the headline was a blurry photo of Nova in her red gown at the gala.
Beside it: a zoomed-in image of Cassia’s face, asleep in her stroller.
“No...” Nova breathed.
She grabbed the phone, scanning the rest of the article.
They knew. Or they thought they did. The piece was filled with speculation, half-t
