en

u're experiencing what we call a threatened miscarriage. The bleeding

o my stomach, covering the tiny life I was already s

een. "The baby's heartbeat is strong, which is a very good sign. But you need to understand

ssuringly, but I could barely focus o

ed, my voice cracking. "I'll

ur baby's heartbeat. Strong and steady at eight weeks. To keep it that way, you need com

been growing inside me through all of Adrian's coldness, all of Maya's betr

voice careful. "What Elena has been through rec

nding in her eyes. She'd probably seen women in my situation

" she said diplomatically. "The important thing now is cre

said, no matter how he'd rejected us, I would protect this child with my life. Thi

whispered to my belly as Dr. Wi

d his chair closer to my bedside. "Elena, there's something I

e serious expression on hi

raint." Damien's voice was low, urgent. "When he finds out you're staying with

ned to destroy my f

't just win, Elena. He obliterates his opponents. He'll use every resource

"Then why are you helping

." Damien's eyes were intense, focused. "Adrian has hurt a lot of people, destroyed count

I said, touching my stomach.

Damien said. "A woman fighting for her chi

xt message from an unknown number, but I reco

who you're with. This won't

He knows," I whispered, s

"Faster than I expected, but not sur

ged animal, his usually perfect composure completely shattered. Ma

g his phone across the room. "Of all the people in

attack," Maya said without looking up. "So what

Cross isn't just some random stranger. He's been trying to destr

ng across her face. "You think she's doing t

all calculated. The pregnancy, the tears, the helpless a

standing up and moving toward him. "Who

pulate me through Cross, use our connection to hurt my busin

a asked, though her tone sugges

, his voice deadly quiet. "Elena thinks she can hide behind Damien Cr

with malicious excite

t it or not, no child of mine will be raised by my ene

e when my phone rang. The caller ID showed my broth

Dad's business. All our contracts got canceled today. The suppliers

he world spin around me. "I

g on? Mom's treatments, we can't aff

mething out, Ja

mien, who'd heard every wo

," Damien said. "Elena, I

my battles for me. If I'm going to do this,

rried was weak, dependent, eager to please. If you want to sur

by the steel in my own voice. "For my baby, fo

ide me. The scared, broken woman who'd been thrown out of her home

us. Shouting voices, heavy footsteps echoing through the hospit

th rage, flanked by two security guards. His expensive suit was wrink

ing with my child?" he roared, his voi