28

Cole called Kiera afterwards and she agreed to meet up with him in two days, muttering something about antenatal care.

"Good. In the meantime, I will try to find out as much as I can about her," I offered when he dropped the call and turned to me.

"Alright then." He glanced at me and maybe it was a trick of light, but I saw his eyes shine with appreciation.

Cole and I spent the remaining part of the day in our suite, with me teaching him how to fake concern for the pregnancy. At one point, he raised his hands in exasperation and stood up from the bed.

"Why exactly do I have to do this, Elizabeth?"

"It is simple. She needs to feel like you have accepted her story, and she will be more receptive. Then you begin to subtly hit her," I explained with a small smile and added, "not physically though."

Cole looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "Did you mean that as a joke?"

I looked away from him and scratched the back of my neck. "No, never mind."

"Let's continue," he said and sat back again