Libby’s cruel act of telling everyone that Leo was Nick’s son and exposing Jess’s little boy to malicious gossip drove her as far as the Burrunan gates with abuse screaming in her head. Only thoughts of protecting Leo and his sisters had forced her to return home without making a scene. But the abrupt halving of Jess’s income and the loss of Leo’s support payments did not apply the same brake. Locking onto outrage about the unnecessary paternity test—clearly Leo was Nick’s son—she’d driven to the marina, demanding to see Nick. The staff at Pirellis’ blocked each of her attempts. She’d barely been allowed inside the reception area, let alone Nick’s office. Short of accosting him in public, which would only create more meat for the gossips to feast on and open Leo up to more harm, she’d had little option but to dip into her savings to pay her bills.

It was at that point she’d conceded for Leo’s sake and agreed to the paternity test.

She’d recently received a copy of the results. The original had gone direct to the medical practice. Jess eyed her bank balance again then logged into her email account and clicked on the message with the subject line, Paternity Test. Her fingers hovered and then frustration rushed in.

“Stuff this!” Logging out, she grabbed her bag and car keys, called a quick goodbye to Patrice and drove to the medical center.

“Tell Libby I’m here and I’m not leaving until I see her,” she informed the receptionist.

“Dr. Hunter’s fully booked today,” Trina said snippily.

Penny appeared from the office just behind reception. “And for the rest of the week. Actually, for you, she’s fully booked forever.”

“I’m not leaving until I see her.” Jess glanced at the full waiting room. “I’ll happily wait and talk to these good people. I’m sure they’ll be interested in hearing all the questionable things the good doctor got up to when she was younger.”

“You’re a truly awful person, you know that?”

Jess shrugged—she’d been called worse. She silently watched Penny pick up the phone and murmur into it.

When the nurse hung up, she said, “Follow me.”

Jess felt the eyes of the waiting room bore into her as she walked down the corridor and into Libby’s consulting room. Libby sat at her desk, dark shadows under her eyes and her arms crossed. She didn’t turn her chair to face Jess or rise to greet her.

“What do you want?”

Despite wanting to slap Libby for being such a princess, Jess strove for the high ground. For Leo’s sake, they needed to find a way to resolve this bitter impasse. “How are you?”

“What. Do. You. Want?”