“You don’t have a choice.” He eases back in his seat. “I tell you what. I’ll sweeten the deal. I’ll cancel lunch with mybeloved twinon Saturday, and I’ll stay away from him until we have the results.”
That would help because I’m petrified of Reeve spending time alone with Dillon. For two reasons. One, I’m scared what Dillon will say, but it seems like he won’t blab anything until he knows if he’s Easton’s father or not. Two, I hate the thought of Reeve growing close to a guy who’s pretending to like him while plotting to destroy his life behind his back.
Letting Dillon reveal the truth to the world, in such a cruel way, would devastate my husband and hurt my son. The last thing we need is the entire world speculating over Easton’s paternity before it’s confirmed.
I hate I’m letting my ex blackmail me, but I don’t see how I have any option. Dillon is determined to keep this from Reeve until it suits him to deliver the worst possible blow.
Maybe he is calling my bluff and I should challenge him on it, but I’m not sure that’s a risk I want to take. Would he really do this knowing he could be hurting his own flesh and blood? Is he saying this to force me into toeing the line, or is he callous enough to do it without losing sleep? The Dillon I once knew could be deliberately cruel with his words and his actions, lashing out in anger, yet deep down, I always knew he didn’t mean it. It was a defense mechanism to protect himself. But he’s no longer the same man I knew, so I can’t rely on my past experience to guide me now.
I could lie. I could tell Dillon I agree and still come clean to Reeve, but I know if I fess up Reeve won’t be able to resist going after Dillon and Dillon will then release everything to the press and our lives will become a media circus. We would have no choice but to tell Easton, and he’s too young to have this thrust upon him, without building up to it.
If DillonisEaston’s bio dad, I will need time to introduce that information to my son in a way that doesn’t upset him too much. He will have to get to know Dillon as an uncle first, and when the time is right, he can be told the truth that he has two dads.
I can’t let Dillon force my hand with Easton, so I have no option but to agree to his evil plan.
Even if I know it means Reeve may never forgive me for keeping all of this from him.