Page 105 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 2

"Hi, sweetheart," I whispered shakily."What's your name?"

She blinked those big brown eyes and said, "I'm anna."

That was it.I cried so hard while holding her tiny body against my chest.She looked exactly like Betty.I could see her in every part of this child.

Mrs.amanda quietly reached into her bag and pulled out a brown envelope."This was left for you.It's from Betty...before she passed.She wanted you to have it."

I sat down opposite her slowly, still holding anna in my arms, and opened the file with trembling hands.Inside was a handwritten letter.I could tell it was Betty's handwriting the second I saw it.My heart dropped, and I started reading.

Dear Liana,

If you're reading this, it means I didn't make it.

I don't even know where to start.I'm sorry.I'm so, so sorry for dropping this on you like this.You've always been the strongest person I knew.You were the only person who treated me like family when I had no one.You were there for me when the world felt too cruel, and now I need one last favor from you.

My daughter, anna, she's all I have left.My husband and I were involved in a terrible car crash, he didn't survive, and I...I'm not too sure I will survive it too.Daniel and I are orphans, we don't have anyone in this world.No parents.No siblings.No relatives.Just you.

Please, Liana...please take care of her like she's yours.I know it's too much to ask, but I'm begging you.She's a good girl.She's sweet.I want her to grow up loved, safe, and protected.And you're the only one I trust with that.

In this envelope, there's a card.It's anna's trust fund.The password is 0504, her birthday.It's not much, but we saved every little we could for anna's future.For her school, her health, her everything.I just...I never thought I wouldn't be around to give it to her myself.

Thank you for being my sister when I had no one.I love you, Liana.Please let her forget me.

Love,

Betty.

By the time I finished the letter, I was sobbing into anna's tiny shoulder.I couldn't control it.My whole body shook as I held her closer and whispered over and over again, "I promise.I promise.I promise I'll take care of you.You're mine now.I'm your mommy now, okay?I'm your mommy."

anna didn't say anything, but she touched my wet cheeks with her little hand and rested her head on my shoulder like she understood.

Mrs.amanda was crying too.She sniffled and said, "after her mother passed, the nurse called us at the orphanage to come pick the baby up.We didn't know how to find you, but while going through her things, we found this letter and her phone.Your name was saved as 'Liana My Only Sister.'That was how we knew who to call."

I wiped my eyes and nodded."Thank you.Thank you so much for reaching out.I swear, I'll take care of her.as if she were my own.I mean it."

She nodded slowly, then looked at me a little more seriously."Not that I don't trust you, dear, but I heard you're getting married soon...I'd like to meet the man who's going to be raising anna too.You know, just to be sure everything's in order before we finalize the paperwork."

"Of course," I said immediately."You're right.Please, give me a few minutes.I'll call him."

I picked up my phone and called Killian."Hey, baby.Can you come to this address right now?It's important."

He sounded concerned right away."What's wrong?are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said quickly."I'll explain everything when you get here.Please just come."

Ten minutes later, Killian pulled up in his black SUV, and the second he stepped inside the café, I could see the worry all over his face.He rushed toward us, stopping only when he saw me holding the baby and the other woman sitting beside me.

"Liana," he said slowly."What's going on?"

I stood up, still holding anna, and motioned for him to sit down."Please, just listen for a moment."

He nodded, sat, and looked between me and Mrs.amanda with confusion.

I took a deep breath."This is anna.She's Betty's daughter, my best friend from college.The one who helped me during those horrible years.She's gone, Killian.She died.And so did her husband.There's no one left.She left me a letter asking me to take care of anna.To be her mom."

I watched his expression shift as I spoke, saw his eyes soften with each word.By the time I finished, he looked at anna like she was the most delicate thing he'd ever seen.

He swallowed hard and reached out to touch her little hand."She's beautiful," he whispered.