Seeing them huddle together in the freezing February wind with thin jackets and two battered duffel bags broke my heart, prompting me to immediately offer them the safety of my empty apartment. Isla fiercely rejected my help, expressing profound anger because she believed I had abandoned her to raise our children in poverty. I was bewildered by her accusation, realizing in that freezing moment that we had both been victims of a massive deception. I immediately contacted my assistant to cancel the engagement announcement, knowing I could never go through with proposing when my true family was standing right in front of me. My phone buzzed with a threatening message from my mother, warning me to stay away from the children and claiming I had no idea what I was getting into. Isla then revealed a horrifying truth, explaining that my mother tried to pay her to disappear seven years ago and resorted to worse tactics when she refused. I arranged for an impenetrable executive suite at a secure hotel, hiring elite tactical operators to ensure Isla and my daughters were completely safe.
