“I loved my stepfather—and I heard him say I disgusted him.” To Nelson, Paulette was just his stepdaughter—nothing more, nothing ever. But after years of silent love, that night broke her. Instead of pleading, she said yes to another man’s proposal. Now, with her heart in pieces and her dignity intact, Paulette is ready to leave. But when Patricia-the woman Nelson once loved—moves in like a queen, old wounds deepen. Paulette always believed love would conquer age, names, and bloodlines. She was wrong. And Nelson might only realize it… when she finally disappears from his life.
Chapter 1
Paulette Davenport went to her stepfather Nelson Chapman's birthday party with her gift.
Just as she reached the door, she heard a voice from inside. It was Matthew McKenzie, Nelson's friend. "Nelson, now that Patricia's back, you're gonna marry her soon, right? What about Paulette? Everyone knows she has feelings for you."
The dim light and the frosted glass made Nelson's expression vague.
Then his cold voice sounded inside. "She's too young to understand what love is. Why take her words seriously?"
"She may be young, but she's had a crush on you for years. You really don't feel anything for her?" Matthew wondered.
Paulette held her breath-she wanted to know the answer more than anyone.
Lounging on the sofa, Nelson exuded the charm of a mature man.
After a slight pause, he said, his voice deep and icy, "Again, she's too young. She doesn't know what she's doing. Don't joke about this again. For me, she's just my stepdaughter. I'll never have feelings for her."
His la
