I was frozen, staring at this Olivia ‘impersonator,‘ immediately seeing Olivia herself before me.


    “Hello, Alpha,” she said, and even her smile was the same. She politely bowed her head, then looked up at me from under hershes. “My name is Becky<b>.</b>”


    It took a moment, but when I recovered from my shock, my anger tripled. “What’s the meaning of this,


    Olivia<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Tonyughed. “Olivia? Cousin, you heard her. Her name is Becky. She works at the theater. I’ve known her for years.”


    Tony’s words confused me. My cousin was many things, a yboy and a freeloader, a man who seemed <b>. </b>more keen on living on his inheritance and our family name than actually working hard a day in his life.


    But I didn’t think he would lie about something like this.


    Why would he? When, if the truth came out, it could affect his trust fund?


    I took another look at this Becky, and could see a few differences now. Not in the face, that seemed


    exactly the same, and her body shape was also simr. But her hair was darker, and her scent wasn’t


    quite right.


    “…Becky,” I said, still not sure what I believed.


    “That’s right,<i>” </i>she said, grinning. “Have you seen one of my shows?”


    “Becky is still working her way up the ranks at the theater,” Tony said. “Right now, she’s just a chorus


    girl.”


    Becky immediately red at Tony, another look I was so familiar with, the simrities were shocking.


    “Are you rted to Olivia?” I asked.


    Returning her expression to me, Becky’s face softened as she shrugged. “Maybe distant cousins or something. Honestly, I’m not sure. My dad split on my mom and me when she was pregnant, so maybe


    there’s something there.”


    I thought back to what I knew about ire’s father. He had always seemed a reputable sort, a pir of themunity. He didn’t seem like the kind to have an affair, father a child, and then bail on the entire situation, but then how much did I really know about anyone?


    Sometimes people hid their heinous actions behind the shield of their good reputations.


    In this case, though, it didn’t seem right for me to specte, especially because, in the end, none of this mattered.


    “Tony<b>,</b><b>” </b>I said.


    “Yes, cousin?<b>” </b>


    “Pay Becky and send her on her way,” I said. Looking at Becky, I added, “I’m sorry, miss. I don’t know what he told you, but I can assure you, there is no need for an actress here.”


    “Tony told me everything,” Becky said. “I’m not opposed to the job.”


    “I am,” I told her. I looked at Tony again, annoyed he wasn’t moving. “Tony. Pay her.”


    “Now, let’s take a minute here to calm down<b>, </b>Julian,” Uncle Peter said. “Becky here could be just the thing


    that could help your mother.”


    “Lying to her is not what Mom needs,” I said.


    “Are you so sure?” Uncle Tony asked. “Telling her the truth only upsets her.”


    “How much time does she really have left?” Tony added. “A couple of weeks at most? A handful of days at least? Why not let her live her final moments in peace, thinking you are happy.”


    “I am happy,” I snapped. “With Amber.”


    “Are you?” Tony asked. “Causest I heard, she’s been refusing to ept you.”


    My anger was rising, which unfortunately, made my voice rise too. “I want her,” I pointed at Becky, “Out.


    Now.”


    <b>“</b>Julian,” came Mom’s weak voice from her room. “Tell me you aren’t talking to your wife that way<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Immediately I snapped my mouth closed.


    Gods damn it.


    I had been too loud and dug my own grave.


    Tony nced at Becky<b>, </b>“You’re on, sweetheart.”


    Becky smiled at me sweetly, a thing that turned my stomach, before she turned and rushed toward the


    room.


    I hurried to follow her, wanting to stop her but unsure how to now that I knew Mom was awake and


    listening so intently.


    “Oh, Mom. You’ll have to forgive our lover’s tiff,” she said. “You know how passionate your son can me. I’m afraid that he’s that way with everything, even our arguments.”


    As I moved into the doorframe, I saw Mom hold up her hand to wee ‘Olivia.‘ Becky immediately moved closer and epted Mom’s hand.


    “He shouldn’t talk to you that way,” Mom said, no matter how passionate.


    “Once a mother, always a mother,” Becky said, smiling gently.


    Mom smiled too, in an earnest happy way that made my chest ache. I hadn’t seen her look this contented since I arrived. I hated that Becky was the one to make her look like this, when it should have been


    Amber, Alice, and me.


    I didn’t want to be a part of this lie. I wanted to tell her the truth.


    But in the moment, it was so difficult to ruin Mom’s happiness when it was so rare a thing <i>to </i>see.


    I stood frozen, unsure.


    I didn’t want to break my mother’s heart.


    Amber’s POV


    Not all that long ago, I used to work at the same hospital that Julian’s mother was staying at. While I had since moved on, I still maintained some contacts there with some of the nicer staff.


    One of the nurses, in particrly, had been especially kind to me, and we had kept in touch. Not all the time, but with greeting cards for holidays and an email now and then to catch up.


    Thinking of her now, I decided to call her.


    Maybe I should have stayed out of it like Julian wanted, but healing was my profession and I knew <b>I </b>was


    good at it. If I could help his mom in some way, I was determined to try. Maybe I could do so without


    stepping foot on the hospital premises.


    All I really needed was some information about what her condition was. Who would know that better


    than a nurse?


    “Healer Amber,” the nurse said with a smile as she answered. “How nice to get a call from you! I just sent


    <b>you </b>an emailst week. Did you get it?”


    “I did<i>,</i>” I said. “Actually, I’m sorry, but this isn’t just a personal call, though I’m hoping we can catch up <fn8936> Readplete version only at find?novel</fn8936>


    too.”


    “Oh? Did you need something?”


    “Just some information,” I said. “I heard Julian’s mother is there, and I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help out. I understand she doesn’t have much time left, but if there’s anything I could do to help, even if it’s ideas on how to make her morefortable…”


    My nurse friend was quiet on the line for a long moment. Long enough to make me worry.


    “Is something wrong?” I asked.


    <b>“</b>I’m just surprised, I guess,” she said. “You’ve always been selfless about these things, but it seems strange for you to reach out now that you and Julian have split for good.”


    This time, it was my turn to go quiet.


    I generally kept the details of my rtionship with Julian a secret, but it was one of those known kind of


    secrets. Julian wasn’t seeing anyone else, and he’d been spotted spending his time with me.


    There must have been rumors, so I wasn’t sure why my friend would find this so strange.


    “What makes you think that?” I asked.


    “Because Julian is here with Olivia. His wife.”