“No! Don’t touch me,” she screamed. Scrambling to her feet, she made a break for the exit, only to be caught by Finn before she could even reach the door
Finn snorted. “You’re not going anywhere until the test is done.”
The woman’s face drained of color. She looked at Quinn, shuddering as she pleaded. “Tim sorry, Mr. Madden. Please forgive me! I didn’t know who I was dealing with, I had no idea about Ms. Hinton’s relationship with you.”
Jess raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you just claim to be Ms. Hinton’s mother?”
The woman shook her head vehemently and pointed a finger at Skylar. “It was her! She made me memorize those lines and say all those things. She paid me to put on this act. I don’t even know Ms. Hinton.”
Gasps and murmurs erupted in the croval as the guests condemned Skylar’s actions.
“Shut up.” Skylar snapped at the woman, her eyes darting around the hall in a panic. “Natalia is a bastard. She really isn’t our family’s child!”
“Indeed, I wouldn’t compare Natalia to the likes of the Hinton family–they’re worlds apart in terms of character, Jess remarked, his eyes full of
disdain
Skylar x face contoned with rage at Jess’s words.
“Call the police,” Quinn instructed Finn
“Wait, don’t call the police.” I quickly intervened. Pursing my lips, I met Quinn’s piercing gaze, remembering the conversation I had with Jenna at the hospital and what I had promised her.
Without elaborating. I gestured for the guards to escort Skylar outside. Once she was out of earshot, I walked over to her.
“What are you trying to do?” Skylar looked at me warily, her voice trembling with fear.
I leaned closer and whispered, “If I call the cops, a defamation charge could land you in prison. How long do you think you’d serve?”
Skylar shivered, but she put on a defiant look. “Dad wouldn’t-
“Offending Quinn won’t just ruin you–it’ll destroy your entire family. Do you seriously believe you can count on Diana?” I said derisively, my words meant only for our ears. “Why do you think Quinn hasn’t married her yet!”
Skylar narrowed her eyes and asked in confusion, “What do you want?”
“I can let you off the hook this time, but there’s something I need you to do, I said coolly. “Bring me my legal documents” I would fulfill my promise to let her go, and at the same time, register Benedict as soon as possible,
He would be linked to my new identity. I would do whatever it took to ensure But to truly sever ties with my past, I needed the documents.
identity was a blank slate–untainted by the ghosts of my old life.
With no other choice, Skylar reluctantly agreed. “Fine,” she hissed through gritted teeth before she fled.
Behind
mar, I felt the chill of Quinn’s presence. “Why did you let her go?” he asked.
I turned around and caine face to face with Quinn, his gaze dark and inscrutable, waiting for a reason that would satisfy him,
“Thanks for helping me earlier.” I smiled awkwardly. There was no way I could tell him the deal I had struck with Skylar. “By the way, do you that woman I deflected the question by changing the subject.
