"Paisley has a daughter?" Christina blurted.

The room stilled. Diana and Lauren’s smiles vanished, their gazes sharp. Panic seizing her, Christina lashed out. "That girl! Who knows what man she hooked up with?" She looked at Lauren, feigning apology. "I'm ashamed to call her my daughter."

Lauren’s face hardened. "That random man is my son, Dominick."

Christina froze. Two of Dominick's children! She'd just insulted Lauren. Diana raised an eyebrow, catching Lauren's smug glance. Two children. This was complicated. Such strong ties… how could they compete? Especially with Byron keeping Nathaniel away. But if her son loved Paisley, she had to help. He rarely connected with anyone. Even a goddess wouldn't stand a chance against her.

"How could you not know about your own daughter?" Diana asked smoothly.

Before Christina could answer, Brittany stepped forward, clutching Christina’s arm. "It's my fault. When Paisley was three, she got lost. Mom was devastated. She adopted me, pouring all her love for Paisley into me. Later, when Paisley returned, it caused conflict. Mom and Dad loved both of us, but Paisley ran away, not contacting us for years. We’ve only recently reconnected. We're family—no grudges." Tears streamed down Brittany’s face.

Christina, wiping her eyes, echoed, "You're mothers. You understand. Brittany isn't my biological daughter, but I’ve raised her for over a decade. Paisley and Brittany are both my children. But Paisley is stubborn. She runs away whenever things don't go her way."

Sympathy rippled through the women. They thought of their own difficult children. Christina clearly adored Brittany. A mother capable of such love wouldn't mistreat her biological daughter.