Page 152 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

Grace folds her hands on the desk and looks at me evenly.

“You refused to finish the article.”

“Because the circumstances changed.”

“The news cycle did not wait for you to feel comfortable,” Grace replies.

My jaw clenches.

“You knew I objected.”

“I knew you were stalling.”

“I told you why.”

“And I told you that you work for this publication.”

I stare at her, struggling to understand how she can say any of this as though the distinction between journalism and exploitation means nothing.

Grace continues, her voice more measured now.

“Your name is not on the byline.”

“That doesn’t make this better.”

“You are credited in the reporting notes.”

My stomach drops all over again.

“What?”

“You contributed reporting,” Grace says.

“That is accurate.”

“You put my name in the footnotes?”

“You did the reporting, Sophie.”

I can barely process the audacity of it.

“So now Blackwell sees my name attached to a story I refused to write.”

Grace’s expression tightens.

“You are a journalist. Your job is not to protect the subject.”

“This has nothing to do with protecting a subject.”

“Then what does it have to do with?” Grace asks.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I cannot tell her about Julian. I cannot tell her about Boston or Italy. I certainly cannot tell her that I found out yesterday I am carrying his child.

Grace watches me closely before leaning back in her chair.

“That’s what I thought.”

My hands curl into fists at my sides.