CHAPTER FORTY SIX – THE CEO’S DAUGHTER

Raya seemed to shrink in on herself under the weight of his accusing stare. "Lance, I - " "Did you ever stop to consider how I might feel?" he pressed, his voice rising slightly. "Knowing I had a daughter out there, somewhere, growing up without me in her life? Missing out on all her firsts - first steps, first words, first day of school?" His jaw clenched hard, tendons straining in his neck. "Or did you just conveniently forget about me the second you decided to go it alone?" "That's not fair," Raya countered, a flush of anger coloring her cheeks. "You don't think I agonized over that decision every single day? Watching Maya grow up, seeing so much of you in her...?" She broke off, shaking her head jerkily. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, Lance. Believe me." "Well, you'll have to forgive me if I have a hard time wrapping my head around that," Lance bit out sarcastically. "Considering you seemed to manage just fine without me all these years." Raya recoiled as thoug