Emma's body went rigid, her heart pounding so loudly that she could barely hear the murmurs around her. She blinked once. Twice. Hoping and praying that she had misheard.
But she hadn't.
Jake's words hung in the air like a thunderclap.
"Meet Natalie, Alex's nightstand and Dawn, Alex's daughter."
Emma's breath hitched. No. Daughter? It couldn't be true. Jake was probably up to one of his silly games.
She turned to Alex, her pulse racing. His expression was unreadable, his gaze fixed on the small girl standing beside the woman—Natalie.
Emma followed his gaze, and for the first time, she truly looked at the child.
Dawn.
She looked about five years old. Dark brown eyes. Soft brown curls framing her round face. There was something painfully familiar about her features—something Emma refused to acknowledge.
Her stomach twisted violently as she shook her heard. No. No, no, no.
