HER SECRET 10

‘Alison, I can’t tell Matt now. He thinks little enough of me for having married Ben so quickly, but all things considered, it was the only choice I had. Had Matt known the truth he would have

stood by us, borne his responsibilities, and resented me for chaining him to a life he never wanted.’

‘You two were so young. Maybe Matt’s changed.’

‘I really don’t know him now. And I can’t take the chance. Telling him would add to the risk of Will finding out. And I’m afraid Matt would be too angry to continue working for me. I had a hard enough time convincing him as it was.’

‘He has a right to know.’

Sierra held her head high and shook her head. ‘Ben accepted Will as his son and never treated him as anything less. Regardless of Ben’s failings, the rest is just biology.’

Alison eyed her friend critically. ‘I can’t imagine his conception resulted from a science project. Honestly, you talk as though the heart has been cut right out of you. Is this the evidence of Ben’s caring, that he couldn’t