Alicia gazed out of the taxi window, seeing nothing of the normality going on around her, her mind instead full of disjointed snapshots of her life: Justin in the delivery room, nestling Sophie gently in his arms, swearing to his new baby girl that he would die to protect her.

His awe when he’d watched Sophie take her first steps. His fierce sense of pride as she’d accomplished each achievement in her life, big or small. The adoration that shone from his eyes whenever he quietly listened to her singing. The same adoration she’d seen in his eyes for Lucas, as he’d watched his baby boy grow.

The tortured, terrifying heartbreak when he’d realised he couldn’t save him. Alicia would never forget that look in his eyes.

The thunderous look, bordering on hatred, she’d seen when Paul had followed her into the house. She would take that memory to her grave.

He knew – at least part of it. He would be beyond devastated, and she didn’t dare hope he could ever forgive her, but if he ever found out about Sophie, the possibility she might not be his, it would kill him. At least Paul couldn’t disclose that to him, though. He couldn’t reveal what he didn’t know. She’d never told him about her pregnancy. For Justin’s sake, she’d sworn she never would.

Realising they’d arrived at Jessica’s, Alicia paid the taxi off and climbed tiredly out. She needed to be with Sophie. To hold her close and never let her go. To try somehow to stop the hurt, the immeasurable pain her daughter would be going through. She had no idea how she could, apart from simply being there for her. She knew she hadn’t been, through all of this. And now some heartless animal had invaded their home. Sophie would be terrified by that knowledge.

She’d barely taken a step when a car drew up as the taxi pulled off. Paul Radley. Alicia’s blood turned to ice as she recognised his car. How in God’s name did he know Jessica’s address? Jessica had gone out with his friend for a while, not him.

‘Alicia,’ Paul called, winding his window down.

Alicia glanced towards the house, and then took a breath and walked towards him.

‘I just wanted to check you were okay,’ he said, smiling as she approached.

‘So you followed me?’ Alicia looked at him, astonished.

Paul furrowed his brow. ‘Why would I do that? I know where your sister lives. I dropped David off here from the tennis club several times. I was just concerned, that’s—’

‘What do you want, Paul?’ Alicia asked him tersely. Maybe he was genuinely worried – she’d always been rubbish at reading the signs where Paul Radley was concerned – but whatever his reasons were for hounding her, he must know that he was putting her marriage in jeopardy.

‘Look, Alicia.’ He sighed. ‘I know I took off suddenly, and that you probably don’t want to see me…’

Probably? Alicia laughed incredulously.

‘Can we talk? Please?’ he asked her. ‘Five minutes. No more, I promise.’

Alicia glanced nervously back to the house. She didn’t want him anywhere near her daughter.

‘We can drive around, if you like? Or we can just sit in the car.’

Alicia hesitated, and then braced herself. ‘Just five minutes. And we’ll stay here,’ she said, walking around to his passenger side. ‘So?’ she asked, climbing in.

Paul looked her thoughtfully over. ‘I’m concerned, Ali, that’s all,’ he said kindly. ‘I know asking you if you’re all right is ludicrous. Clearly, you’re not going to be, after all that’s happened. I’d just like to help, if I can.’

Alicia glanced warily at him. Surely he must know that the only thing he could possibly do to help would be to leave her alone? ‘There’s nothing you can do, Paul, really,’ she assured him. ‘Thank you for the lift to the reception, and for bringing my phone back – it was kind of you – but I really think it’s best if we don’t have any further contact. I have my family to think of.’

Letting out another heavy sigh, Paul nodded. ‘Your daughter,’ he said.

‘And Justin,’ Alicia reminded him. ‘Look, Paul, I really should go inside. I need to talk to Sophie.’

‘Right,’ Paul said, as she reached for her door. ‘Give her my love.’

Her heart immediately skipping a beat, Alicia froze.

‘Sophie,’ Paul clarified, as she looked cautiously back at him. ‘Give her my love, will you?’

‘What?’ Alicia stared hard at him.

Paul looked away, placing his hands on the steering wheel and fixing his gaze straight ahead. ‘I’ve been wondering… about the timing of your pregnancy.’ He paused pointedly. ‘I talked to Jessica at her party. She mentioned she’d been thinking of having a joint party with Sophie for her upcoming sixteenth. Naturally, that gave me pause for thought.’

Alicia’s heart stopped dead. Jessica? But, surely she would have realised she wouldn’t want him to have her date of birth?

‘Is she mine, Alicia?’

Alicia didn’t answer. She wasn’t capable of formulating an answer.

‘I have a right to know, Alicia. If she is my daughter—’

He stopped, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. His eyes were dangerous, when they came back to hers. ‘Well?’ he demanded.

‘I… I don’t know,’ Alicia stammered, completely destabilised. ‘I…’

Paul sneered. ‘I see. But you didn’t think to mention the fact that you were pregnant?’

‘No, I… You went away. I—’

‘I rang you! I emailed you! You didn’t return one of my calls. Not one! Why? I loved you. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Why didn’t you—’

‘Loved?’ Alicia stared at him, stunned.

Paul tugged in a terse breath. ‘I’ve missed her childhood, Alicia,’ he growled, his jaw tightening. ‘Those years of watching her grow up, they were mine.’

‘That’s rubbish!’ Alicia countered, her anger unleashing. ‘What happened between us was a mistake. It was wrong – you know it was. And what if I had told you? You left! Went off to your bright new career in Dubai. Why would I have imagined you would have been remotely interested in a child you might have fathered?’

‘I didn’t leave voluntarily,’ Paul said, after a second. ‘I had a spot of bother. With the Financial Conduct Authority.’ He paused, embarrassed. ‘An investment complaint. It was all cleared up eventually, but… The point is, I was interested. I asked you to join me. You didn’t even bother to reply.’

‘Join you?’ Alicia studied him, now utterly bewildered. ‘I was married. I loved my husband.’

‘But you still came back. Made love with me,’ Paul retorted. ‘What we had was good, Alicia. Special. You can’t deny that.’

Alicia laughed incredulously. To him, it had been. He’d kissed her tenderly before she’d left the hotel room that first time. He’d sent her flowers, she remembered, to the office. He really had thought it was special. A relationship. ‘You’re mad,’ she said, and turned to shove her door open.

Paul idled for a second, after she climbed out. Alicia felt the hairs rise on her skin as she wondered whether he might try to follow her in. Then, at last, he eased away from the kerb.

‘I’ll be in touch,’ he shouted through his window as he drove off, causing cold terror to rip through her.

Justin was going to find out, from him, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She’d never said the actual words – told Justin that Sophie was his. Why would she? He’d trusted her, God help him. He’d never questioned her. He’d been the best father to Sophie that a man could be. She had to pre-empt Paul, talk to Justin before he did.

It would kill him. His heart would be utterly broken.

Swallowing back her deep sense of shame, the shame she’d carried, and which had intensified every time she’d lied, whether with words or by omission, she swiped a tear from her cheek and turned to the house, ringing the bell urgently, only to find Jess already swinging the door open.

‘Ali…’ Jess’s face was white, her eyes filled with apprehension as they searched hers. ‘Justin… He knows.’

Alicia felt her legs go weak beneath her. Oh God, no. ‘How much?’ she asked, her voice hoarse. ‘How much does he know?’

Stepping back to let her in, Jessica glanced guiltily down. ‘Sophie. He knows about Sophie,’ she said, looking wretchedly back at her.

Alicia stared at her, uncomprehending. Surely Jess hadn’t…? She’d sworn she wouldn’t. She’d urged Alicia to tell Justin the truth years ago, but she’d promised she would never take it upon herself to do so.

‘I didn’t tell him,’ Jess said quickly. ‘I would never have done that, I swear to God I wouldn’t. But when he asked me outright… I was vague, but couldn’t lie to him, Ali. I’m just no good at it. He guessed. I think he’d half guessed already. I’m so sorry.’ She looked at her beseechingly. ‘So, so sorry,’

Alicia nodded, the floor seeming to shift underneath her as she tried to digest, tried to imagine what unbearable heartbreak Justin would be going through right now. ‘It’s all right,’ she said, closing her eyes. It was her fault. Not Jess’s. Hers. She should never have expected her to lie for her. ‘I need to ring him. Talk to him.’

‘There’s something else.’ Jess caught her arm as she fumbled shakily into her bag for her phone.

Alicia looked sharply up. What? What else could there be?

‘Sophie.’ Jess’s eyes were wide with fear. ‘I think she might have overheard.’

Alicia felt the breath being sucked from her body, her world unravelling, her marriage crumbling. Her husband’s life ruined. Her daughter’s.