EL

jolt up his arms. "Get your hands off me, you sick pervert!"

faltering. "Calm down, little

. "You do that again, and I'll hit

. "Don't act so tough, Amelia. You're still

the large bed. His words sent a slight chill d

in my voice. "I'm not the same coward of a girl you

s eyes. "I heard from mum that you're getting married t

Leave my room now or th

what? Telling mum and dad? Don't tell me you thi

. He was right. None of them would care. At least

et knife from my bedside cu

Without a word, he turned and left the room. I

my son beside me. He was sleeping peacefully,

************

kled with city lights. I had spent hours dragging Noah from one hospital to anothe

the same: "I'm sorry,

I sighed, massaging my temple, my fingers wrapped around a luk

I had thought maybe if I could find a job before five days, I would

ut I couldn't lose hope right now. I still had fo

le champ doing her

y thoughts. I looked up to see Xander smi

a faint smile. He settled on a chair besi

ked, scanning my face. I glanced at him, the

, my voice low. "Why are you h

rieve an important docume

ble, a smile on her face. "What can I g

re bad and all I could taste was the coffee that had gotten cold and sta

son is adorable, sir." I turned to Xande

u're mi

, cutting me off. The wa

atures," he said. "There was no need to correct her. Besides Noah

though. I didn't know why I

's bothering you now? You

Xander," I blurted. Still saying those words and constantly reminding myself

ing in genuine confusion. He leaned forward, his earlier relaxed post

ashing over me in a fresh wave. "I'm getting m

ongue, heavy and unwelcome. "It w

t be your decision," he said, h

My... parents. They concluded

"Why did they make th

decision alone made my knee

upt. Conrad Pierre promised to invest in t

s death and they're dragging you into another mess

ws arched. "Why do you

of the Pierre family," he began. "He has a zero tolerance for e

, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in my own heart. He

o go ahead with

a," he said, his voice low. "What if my father inves