n Patr

placed by pride and satisfaction. She settled bac

chased me for two whole years. To bring me coffee between classes, he took the commuter train across half the

My mother always taught me that men don't value what comes too easily

. Derek did not smile at all. His jaw was tight as ir

rse voice. "No one wants to hear about o

is interruption. "To make me jealous, he got so desperate that he act

caught in

on. That girl even cut ties with her family for him. Her parents had arranged a proper match for her back home, and she

ught she was building a future with hi

rek roared, slamming

e the cramped car. Alexia fli

right to yell at me? I was

staring fixedly at the road ahead. "It's

ap. My nails dug into my palms hard enou

erek knelt on the plastic floor of my dorm room, weeping. "Jillian, you are my only hope. If you

father pointed at the door and said that if I walked out

ed out

ad only used me as a pawn to provoke my best friend. Every night I stayed up doing boo

k. I immediately wiped it aw

Alexia noticed. "Are you

y voice flat. "The doctor said

. We're almost

lding. A four-story redbrick walk-up with peeling

support, you really need to move out of here." She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned t

"I'll take it up. You wait in the car, Lexi. The stairwe

e." Alexia leaned ove

pharmacy paper bag. In the narrow stairwell, there was only the sound of

hed in after me, shoved the door mostly shut behind him, grabbed my shoulders, and

nic. "Jillian, let me explain." He lowered his head, trying to nuzzl

ith all my strength. He staggered back two st

Don't you ever

said, raising both hands. "Alexia is downst

whom, Dere

d the situation. Alexia's father is the chairman of the hospital board! The fellowship in Boston was arranged by him! She's pregnant, f

ted at my abdomen. "Dr. Evans said I have signs o

ach. There was no warmth in h

d. Have the baby quietly and don't make a scene. After Alexia gives birth and my fellowship is secure

even years for you, Derek. And during those seve

d ashamed, stepping closer again. "Alexia was onl

I should be you

nob sudde

lding up her phone, the camera pointed straight inside. S

r, reaching toward my arm, then at me, backed into

at are you

steps, fingers trembling as he straightened his suit jacket. "

Her eyes were nailed to my face

ed me across the face with all her strength. The sharp crack echoed through the empty

with hatred. "I went with you to the clinic! I had my fiancé drive you home!

of my mouth and reached into my

. Touch me again, and

. "You'll call the police? You seduced

exia, you slapped the wrong person." I wiped the blood f