Chapter 462: It’s You

Riley stared at me like I’d just suggested something completely unhinged, her eyes wide with the particular disbelief reserved for things that genuinely shouldn’t need explaining.

"How could you say that? These two kids are just as much my responsibility as they are yours. I’m asking for one — not even half of one," I said.

Harlan, who had been sitting quietly through all of this, looked between us with his brow pulling together in real confusion. "Wait — what do you mean, your responsibility? What exactly happened here?" The color drained from his face in a slow, visible wave. "Hold on... you two didn’t...?" He slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes blown wide. "Does Lewis know? Riley, how could you — no wonder she lost so much weight when you disappeared for a while!"

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