Eleanor didn''t notice her as her group quickly headed for the elevators.


    "Oh my god! Is that Eleanor? She really owns the room."


    "She''s the real deal. Her aplishments speak for themselves."


    "In the world of scientific research, you can''t get by without real talent."


    "True that."


    Faye listened to her colleagues'' chatter, clutching the documents in her hand so tightly her knuckles turned white.


    There was a time when she''d convinced herself Eleanor seeded because of her father, because of Joel Kingsley, because ofn, because of sheer luck—anything but her own merit.


    But now, seeing this felt like a p in the face. The stark contrast between them was suffocating.


    "Faye? Faye," a colleague called her name.


    "What is it?" Faye snapped back to reality, her expression sour.


    "We should head up," the colleague said, giving her a curious look.


    Faye followed them with her files. Just then, one of her colleagues asked, "Faye, I heard you were in the same year as Eleanor, and even in the same ss. Is that true?"


    "Yeah, tell us what she was like back in school!"


    Faye''s face suddenly darkened. She shot them a re. "What she''s like has nothing to do with me."


    The two colleagues were taken aback and exchanged a confused nce. What had gotten into her? They quickly walked ahead, not daring to provoke her further.


    Just then, Faye''s phone buzzed. She looked down and saw a text from Horace: [You free tonight? Want to get dinner?]


    A sh of intense hatred crossed Faye''s eyes. She knew Horace was unhinged, so she had been avoiding himtely, trying her best not to see him.


    [Faye, there''s something about your father I want to tell you tonight. I''m sure you''ll be interested.]


    Faye continued to ignore him, but Horace was persistent. [Are you sure you don''t want to know your dad''s secret?]


    Faye knew her father had plenty of mistresses. It was just the same old sordid affair, and she had no interest in his messy life.


    Another text from Horace came through. [Faye, I''ll give you a hint. It''s about your dad having an illegitimate son.]


    Faye nced at her phone in


    irritation, but her eyes widened at


    thest messages What


    illegitimate son? Her father had an


    illegitimate son? How was that


    possible?


    For years, her mother had kept a tight leash on him. Even with all his affairs, none of


    the women had ever had a child. Horace had to be lying.


    [Horace, I''m at work. Can you stop bothering me?] Faye texted back, her tone a clear warning.


    [Faye, don''t be so cold! It''s just dinner. I won''t do anything!]


    Faye shoved her phone into her pocket, determined to ignore him She had just gotten to her desk when her phone rang. Thinking it was Horace again, she was


    surprised to see it was her mother.


    "Hey, Mom," Faye answered wearily.


    On the other end, her mother''s voice was choked with sobs. "Faye—your father just


    told me he wants a divorce. He''s leaving us."


    Faye shot up from her chair. "What?"


    "I don''t know what''s gotten into him.


    He came home today and started a


    fight and then he just brought up


    divorce


    What have bever


    have bever done to


    deserve this?"


    As her mother''s cries filled her ear, Faye remembered Horace''s texts. Could it be


    true? Did her father really have an illegitimate son somewhere?