'S

im again that I'd be fine, that there was no need to tell Father. Adrian didn't mean what he'd said. Ethan didn't believe me

inclair Global would vanish overnight-and with it, the only dream I h

entryway. The scent of polish and lemon cleaner lingered in th

. "Where have you been, Ava? Running off first thing in the morning while the h

utching my

She glanced up, her lips curling. "Honestly, Mother, what do you expect? Ava's not a wife. She's a

y tone steady. "I-I had an appoint

as she sat upright, eyes wide. "Hospita

eemed to fr

her feet. "Pregnant?" Her voice cracked like thunder. "Don't

stunned.

d at me an

nom, "my son's life has already been cursed once by marrying you. I will not

stomach. My heart clenched as tho

's right. Imagine a child with her face. With that scar.

held them back. I would not

t pregnant, Ava. Pray every night. Because if you think we'll al

rned like fire against my hip. Positive. The most beautiful

, and I turned away before they co

*

ssly. The dinner I had prepared sat cold on the table, untouched. My scar ac

front door

heart racing, hope

even crossed the threshold. His tie hung loose around his neck, his

t didn't belong to me. Floral. Swee

ed, stepping forwa

hot, his expression hard as stone. "Don't." His

fr

is lip. "What is this? Another pathetic attempt to play house? Do

htened. "I j

"Do you hear me? What you want doesn't matter. Not your feelings. Not your face. Not your-" He st

r I've told you-warned you-not to? How many times must I remind

than the guards' hands dragging me

ively brushed ag

pital this morning?" His words

y. "It was just-just a ch

er woman suffocating me. "If you're hiding something from me, Ava.

The test result pressed hard against my palm inside,

pered. "I just... I just

s broken glass. "Happy? By hu

surprise you. I thou

d cruelly. "The only thing I felt when you walked

did. After everything I've told you, you still disobeyed me. Do you have any idea wh

mbled. "I d

ed with playing the role of wife when you're nothing but a liability to me.

t I shook her head desperatel

g me? Was that what he called his shame? Was that what he meant every time he'd told me n

t protec

ng me. Sele

t you've been parading around in public with another man? Do you

is he

. "What? No! Adria

lie t

my stomach, as though to shield the tiny secret growing inside me. His gaze linge

nst the table. Plates rattled, silverware cl

e left behind

isgust me." as he disappeared up the stairs, leav

ch. I can't tell him, I realized with a sickening clarity. If he could look at me with such hatr

My stomach twisted violently-not from the child I carried, but from the growing reali

out my identity as the heiress to the Comp

s carrying, the life I thought would save us, m

zed through the silence. I couldn't hear the word

omach, I realized the truth

d I was pregnant... it w

ht des

rue identity when I can't ev