Wrong Kid, Wrong Wife

Poppy had been sickly since the day she was born.

My dad had picked out a pendant worth over ten million dollars and had it blessed just for her.

Poppy wore it every single day.

It never left her side.

I yanked the pendant off Holden's neck and stared at him. "How did you get this?"

Zara looked irritated. "I gave it to him. Got a problem with that?

"I told you from the start. Poppy was just a girl. Trouble followed her. Something that valuable would only bring her more trouble.

"If you'd listened to me, she wouldn't have died. Now Holden can wear it, and his good luck can cancel out whatever bad luck she left behind."

My hands trembled with rage.

I couldn't hold back anymore.

I slapped her across the face.

Holden stepped in, all wounded pride.

"Zara's not wrong. A son carries the family name. A daughter means nothing."

He looked at me, then smiled. "Don't worry. Even without Poppy, Oliver can treat you like his dad.

"You've got a massive fortune. Oliver can inherit it for you.

"He's our family's precious son. You should be grateful he's willing to be your heir.

"As for Poppy's ashes, we'll dump them somewhere disgusting and erase her from this family."

Before he could finish, Zara's eyes lit up.

"Holden's right!"

She grabbed the urn and dumped the ashes into a bowl of dog food before I could stop her.

Then she tossed the bowl to the dog.

The dog wagged its tail and ate.

I stared at her. "Are you insane?"

Zara burst out laughing. "That worthless girl won't ever be part of my life again!"

The madness in her eyes froze me cold.

Then it hit me.

Zara had been jealous of Poppy.

A servant led several cops inside.

One of them flashed his badge.

"Holden Tyndall, we have enough evidence linking you to the kidnapper who abducted Oliver Tyndall. Come with us."

Both their faces went white.

"What are you talking about?" Zara blurted. "How could it be Oliver? It was obviously Poppy!"

The officer looked confused. "You're the parents. Don't tell me you don't know which kid was taken."

"I get it." Holden suddenly shot me a smug look. "You paid these cops to mess with us, didn't you? We're not falling for it.

"Oliver's waiting at the hotel for his birthday party. I'll call my parents right now."

His hand was shaking as he dialed.

The second Wilson picked up, Holden rushed out, "Dad, where's Oliver? Put him on the phone!"

He shot me a smug look.

Then Wilson's stunned voice came through the speaker.

"Isn't Oliver with you? Bring him over right now!"

"Oliver isn't with you?" His voice started to shake.

"No. He left us a message saying he was going to find you."

The moment Wilson finished, Holden's eyes snapped to the officers.

One of them immediately handed him a document. "The child who was kidnapped and tortured to death was your son, Oliver Tyndall.

"This is his death certificate."