ate sat on the sofa with her hands folded in her lap, looking

. Grey, sat in armchairs, looking at her

pack. It looked like irrefutable evidence. Michael had just found it in the bathroom trash

filled with a mixture of worry and maternal

courage to answer. Her chest felt tight, li

st a whisper. But it was enough

dropping his body into

t a joke or something. But... Brother

silent, now spoke in a

that something like this will have major consequences. I just

oking at her parents with a mixture of g

Dad," she said, trying to sound firm d

plain, Kate," Mr. Grey's voice so

ve us a plausible reason how you got pregna

ut. The secret was too heavy to reveal. If she told

ad kidnapped her. She couldn't say that their relationship be

ut full of hurt. "We want to support you. Bu

ll had n

lk to us, how ca

s running down the corners of her lips. She wanted to s

amily didn't

ught she was jus

ther, stood with his arm

ore. Willson? What kind of man is he? Is he us

r head lightly. "I

in a firm voice, cutting throug

you stay here without clarity. You'll be staying with Aunt Margaret outs

en though she knew thi

... I c

voice rising. "You have brought dishonor to this

but he did not reject the decision. She

u need time and space to deal with this.

o fight, wanted to beg them to let her

h in her, and she didn't have th

e?" he asked quietl

replied coldly. "I'll drive y

*

ificent mansion she had once considered a temporary home-and a place full of bitterswe

rtyard burned faintly, illuminating the well-maintained garden despite the rain.

mall buzzing sound was heard, but there was no response. She waited for

again, a heavy voice from t

's t

f, recognizing the voice of o

expectant voice. "I've come to se

ther end, and Kate began to fee

e more quietly and carefully. "Miss K

ead. She frowned, confused. "What do you me

ice now sounding reluctant. "A few weeks ago.

f the rain falling from the sk

voice sounded hoarse, barel

" the maid replied aga

hat Mr. Willson said that he needed to le

telling her? Willson knew that she was pregnant, t

trying to contain the tremor in her voice. "A

not sure, Miss. Mr. Willson simply said that whoever was lookin

o burn. "He left me," she

y don't know what happened. But if there's a me

tly, though no o

u," she s

ilence returned. Kate stood there, under the steady r

away from the gate, her head bowed. Her

leave without

g away from r

f protecting himself

rying to shelter from the rain. She wrung her finger

t here for me," she

ive up. She wasn't just carrying the weight of herself no