My Family Faked Mom's Death to Stop My Wedding—My Adopted Sister Had My Fiancé's Baby novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: The Christening

I read the pencil note again, standing barefoot in my grandmother's hall.

Scan on file. No meeting required.

"He's doing it a second time," I said.

"Yes," Bruce said.

"Same trick. My own signature, copied."

I called the lawyer on speaker, and he picked up on the first ring.

"Don't sign anything," he said. "Not a receipt, not a birthday card. I'll write the Genoa buyer today and tell them the shares are contested."

"Will they listen?"

"They'll listen to a letter from a lawyer. They won't stop wanting a company at half price."

Rocco stood by the door with his hands hanging.

"Dad's lawyer told him you can't stop a closing without a court," he said. "He said a court takes a year."

"I don't have a year."

"I know," Rocco said. "That's why he wrote it that way."

The phone buzzed in my hand.

It was an unknown number, and the voice was a whisper.

"Livia, it's me."

Claire.

"The auditor's report went to the district attorney on Friday," she said. "Ethan found out an hour ago. He moved the christening up. It's today, at Saint Brendan's, at noon."

"Whose christening?"

"Rosa's." Her voice cracked. "He wants Dad's friends in the pews and Dad as godfather. He thinks nobody will touch him in front of the parish."

"Why are you calling me?"

"Because you said you'd think about the deal."

I looked at Bruce.

He lifted one shoulder.

"I'll be there at eleven," I said.

Saint Brendan's looked the same as nine days ago.

White roses on the altar rail, the same brass candlesticks, the same smell of old wax.

The same steps, outside.

I stood on them at a quarter to twelve, in a plain gray dress, with Bruce a step behind me.

My mother stood beside me.

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