pte

th to b

him at Soho at eight that evenin

nd that I should have dinner and rest on my own. Why the sudd

bit like a neglected pet suddenly

noticeable due to my physique. I applied light makeup, filled in my brows

rivate room and held the door open as I entered. I st

me-it was a trick. I recognized t

e doorway, I wanted to leave

ve to get rid of that child!" Elise's voic

ld is mine, too,

ild later. This one was a mi

ady five m

r you could raise him yourself. He'd be your

nk I want to be your mistress and play

not what

n if he is, I'll make sure he never gets in my way

ff guard, realizing sh

month already," Elise pressed. "It's him o

you saying you'd disappear, a

d turne

er my child should be born, with Gavin ac

me. Now, I realized he'd eve

care about me, why would

vin would alwa

no sound. Neither of the

t the door. Her face wasn't smug as I woul

and showing a quiet affection whenever he mentioned the baby. Elise knew th

hands, messaging me about Gavin'

d to ensure that, she knew she had to eliminat

iver to take me home. I asked him no

to harm our child? Should

wouldn't go that far. Perhap

anied me, his hand warm as he held mine. But when we wer

"I'm sorry. There's no heartbeat. We need to

or, are you sure? Everything w

y the heartbeat just stops. You're young;

re with Gav

y eyes as my h

omforting me with empty words. "Your health ma

as it

he feel relieved? Now he wouldn't have to

the procedure. Though the baby was small, it f

ospital. Gavin moved his work there, spending every day by

felt

choing through the halls, wondering if my baby

. He hadn't left the hospital for over ten

e wanted that his assistant could sta

needing someone-

ds to run but would be back soon

oom. I got up slowly, not wanting to disturb anyon

rtled to see Elise enter i

e approached, her ca

u doing here

top; her smile o

What happened?

is is a deep wo

hild was completely healthy-the

Impossible! The doc

hat's because I swapped your prenatal tes

Impossible... H

ital. And guess what? Do you think Gavin knows?"

But if that's true, why did Gavin stil

harmed you. Why

to cry, but my eyes are dry and painful. I

d with hatred.

at the door-Ga

here? Get out!" Gavin stands between Elise

g. Aren't you tired of pretending

at me, panic writt

e tell you? I didn

me you didn't go on dates with her while you

en paler, and he can'

realizes

uly do. I don't like her anymor

me? I really kn

sk, do you know about the child

ld? I don

playing around? Is i

n turns abruptly, shouting,

t shakes her head. "I didn't do anyt

avin yells, his voice send

turns e

replaced the pregnancy test report. Do

es wide with shock and fe

Lily, I really don't!

ly, take a rest, please. Don't get upse

t. I'm lying in

grabs Elise's hand and drags

ndle it. Why did you h

t, why care who made the move? Isn't

ith malice. "Yes, I r

ved me the most? Didn't you tell me her affair was just a child's game

I don't love you anymore. Elise, I'm warning y

een scarred by you! The person she hates the most now m

gs off Elise's ha

Lily, didn't you? So you deliberately set me

ivate room, Lily stood outside the doo

u, she heard you say you did

"Elise..." he mutters, sl

door is a blur. I feel lik

like an eternity, but I can't f

eaches out to

know its gender. I ask it a qu

s like forever, finally gu

e. This is my chil

sob uncon

he dream, as if I hear

t warned that any further stress could be harmful. The severe ble

take good care of her," Gavin sai

I had just died? Maybe that way, Elise would have had a cha

xated on the small hands I had dreamt ab

, my voice weak fr

ding my hand tightly in h

eyebrows, his eyes, his nose, his lips - then gath

s time for u

an't believe you just said that,"

orce," I repeated calmly, t

cept that!" Gavin pleade

eated. You treated me like a placeholder and deceived me. Your actions indirectly caused the l

, who are you r

! Please listen to me. It's not what you

irst time I ha

I really do. I've

nymore. I couldn't understand why h

with Elise. I'll stay out of your way," I said, shaking my head. "I won

time," Gavin insisted, his voice

sitting up and watching over Lily. His heart ached for reasons h

rtook him. At that moment, he realized how much he had come to love her, though he had hu

hat mattered

ut Elise?" I asked, glaring a

made a mistake. What do you want me to

avin, have you ever been tol

ple nod. "Wha

o atone for her sins. I want this hospital to go

said without a mo

. How would you feel knowing that t

I said, clo

stay with you," Gavin s

rged with money laundering, illegal trafficking o

out this?" I ask

en gathering evidence

ill run dow

ect her, no matter the cost. But if he didn't love her, he

ee her," I s

alth..." Gav

her," I insis

ut you can't see her for too long. And if you f

glass. She was wearing a prison unifor

here?" I asked, a cr

oves me," Elise retorted, th

very same Gavin who put yo

, but I could see the panic in her eyes.

's see if your father can help yo

mean by that?

ere to pay for what you did to

with you soon. Gavin is t

e. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and I realize

had been gone for years, he still h

plating where to go next

ful than thinking there's

ring for me in ways I hadn't expected. But eventu

ern city, transferred to a high-speed train,

it was the new beginnin