Chapter 8
He yanked me so hard I nearly stumbled. There she was-Laney, belly just starting to show, sitting on the couch with a bowl of neatly cut watermelon. As soon as she saw me, she stood up, looking nervous and
awkward.
“Dr. Blake… you’re home.”
My eyes drifted toward her stomach. Her gaze welled with tears immediately.
“Dr. Blake, the baby… it’s innocent. I want to keep it.”
I froze for a second, then let out a dry laugh. “You’re really going to keep a rapist’s child?”
“Watch
“Margot!” Lucian snapped. your mouth.”
“Laney has no one. She just wants to keep her baby-what’s wrong with that?”
I curled my lip but didn’t say what I really wanted to. Instead, I pulled my wrist from his grip and walked into
the bedroom.
“Sure. With you around, the kid’ll have a bright, happy future.”
Lucian caught the sarcasm immediately. His brows pinched, ready to scold me again, but I was already gone.
He hurried after me, grabbed the suitcase from my hand, and his voice softened.
“That divorce agreement-I only signed it because I had no choice. Laney’s people from Westover County would’ve torn us apart otherwise.”
“You’re the one I love. We’ve been together for years. I never wanted a divorce.”
“I already ripped up my copy.”
That last part made my heart skip-just for a moment. Lucian saw it and thought he’d won. He leaned in, coaxing, “Stay, okay? Don’t leave.”
I looked up at the clock. Less than three hours till my flight. I didn’t have time for this.
“Didn’t you tell me to lay low? You see the front door lately? The red paint?”
His face went stiff. Yeah, he’d seen it too-those death threats scrawled across the door.
Now he looked like he’d just realized how bad things had gotten for me. He mumbled an apology, “Margot… once Laney’s stable, I promise I’ll clear your name.”
“Just hang in there for now.”
Right then, Laney doubled over, dry heaving into her hand. Lucian spun around, rushing to grab the trash can like she might break.
I stood frozen, watching him hover over her.
And all I could think about was how Lucian had always wanted a kid-how I’d spent every waking hour buried
Chapter 8
I stood frozen, watching him hover over her.
And all I could think about was how Lucian had always wanted a kid-how I’d spent every waking hour buried. in chemical compounds and clinical trials.
He was happy now, wasn’t he?
So happy he hadn’t even noticed I was leaving.
I pulled out the envelope I’d prepared earlier and left it on the entryway cabinet. Then I walked out of that
house.
I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he finally opened it.
Bang. The door slammed shut behind me.
Lucian froze mid-motion, still patting Laney’s back. His chest tightened.
Laney looked up, caught the change in his expression. Her eyes turned watery.
“Professor… I’m okay. You should go after her.”
“She looked so upset… if I ruined things between you two, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Lucian didn’t answer. He stared at the floor, his hand still on her back. Then he swallowed whatever strange feeling twisted inside him and said flatly, “It’s not your fault. Honestly… she’s partly to blame too.”
Laney went pale. Her whole body began to shake.
