CHAPTER 17 Where the Truth Lies

"I haven't found out anything yet."

"It has been weeks Paloma, what the hell are you doing?"

"That's not fair Fox. You're having the time of your life and I'm trying to dig up dirt. I will find away to the truth."

He felt bad for putting her on the spot.

"I'm sorry, it's just that Teresa's behavior is starting to worry me. She did something really stupid and out of character last night."

"What did she do?"

"Got so drunk she couldn't stand up anymore. And she almost went home with some shady character. She misses her son very much."

"Thank you for been there for her."

"I should go and check on her."

"She's not awake yet?"

"No, better that she sleeps it off."

"Bye, Fox."

"Talk to you soon, Paloma."

They both hung up and Paloma sat on the a bench in front of the Crane mansion trying to come up with some way to back Rebecca into a corner. Then the light dawned on her.

"Of course, Julian."

She went inside the mansion and walked to Julian's library where she could hear Rebecca pushing him into marrying her. She walked in a corner and stood there until Rebecca left the library. She then went in and closed the door behind her.

"I already told you Rebecca, do whatever arrangements you want."

"I'm sorry Mr. Crane..."

He looked up.

"Another Lopez-Fitzgerald! How many of you are there anyway?"

"I'm not here for that."

She approached his desk.

"Please leave and don't come back."

"If I leave, you'll never know what Rebecca Hotchkiss cost you and that she is up to the same tricks. If you don't want to marry her or want her out of your life permanently, then maybe you should listen to me."

Julian looked at her puzzled.

"I'm not interested."

"Look, I don't want you paying me for this."

"Everyone wants something in return."

"I didn't say I didn't want anything in return because I do. I just don't want your money."

"And what is it exactly that you want?"

"I want you to give my nephew back to his mother."

He sprung from his chair, angry.

"I will never hand her my son, never."

She put her hands on his desk and looked him straight in the eyes.

"But that's just the thing, Julian. Little Ethan is not your son, he is Ethan's."

He fell back in his chair shocked.

"No, that's impossible."

"Why don't you ask your wife to be and her daughter what they know about it."

He didn't answer.

"You see Julian, the adoring Rebecca and her equally adoring daughter are the ones behind you losing Ethan. The tabloid, that was them. They set this chain reaction in motion."

"Can you prove it?"

"No, and that's where you come in. I've done a lot of snooping around and I keep hitting dead ends."

"What makes you think that I will help you?"

"Because you don't want to marry Rebecca and because I also know that you are behind Sheridan's boat exploding. You don't want me to go running to Luis with this piece of information."

"What tells me you won't?"

"Because I think you endured a lot the past few years and you deserve a break."

"But my son, I love him."

"I know you do. I promise that I won't let Teresa cut him out of your life."

She looked at him and felt bad that he was feeling hurt and betrayed again.

"Why wouldn't Teresa say anything about it?"

"Because she doesn't know, Julian. If she had, she would never have let you take him away from her. She wanted Ethan to be the father from the get go, but Eve Russell told her that it wasn't all that possible."

"I won't promise you anything, but I'll think about it."

"Thank you."

She left the library and Julian went up to the nursery where he picked up his son from the crib.

"I have made so many mistakes in my life."