I gazed at the photo on Caleb's phone one more time before he put it away. The resemblance between me and this Ella Clance woman was uncanny—same eyes, same facial structure, even the tiny mole at the corner of my right eye. My heart raced with questions I couldn't yet voice.
"My father would very much like to meet you," Caleb said quietly. "He knew Ella well. I think he could provide insights about your... heritage."
Nathaniel's arm tightened around my waist. "That won't be necessary."
I glanced up at my husband, seeing the hard set of his jaw. "Nathaniel, I—"
"It's not safe," he interrupted, his voice low. "The Beaumont family has their own agenda."
"With all due respect, Mr. Ricardo," Caleb said smoothly, "this is Mrs. Ricardo's decision to make. After all, it's her history we're discussing."
Tension crackled between the two men as they stared at each other. I placed a gentle hand on Nathaniel's chest.
