Chapter 6
I jerked my head up as Ryan suddenly halted mid–sentence.
But his unfinished words were already crystal clear.
Since I could no longer bear children, I should be grateful for Claire’s “sacrifice.”
How laughable.
The man who once knelt in every cathedral for me had first betrayed my trust, and now expected me to raise murderer’s child.]]
I slowly closed my eyes, tears soaking into the pillow.
Ryan didn’t appear for several days, leaving my hospital room mercifully quiet.
I sat by the window, lost in thought as warm sunlight bathed my hands. For a moment, I could almost feel the soft hair of my unborn child against my palm.]
He would have had Ryan’s eyes, perhaps my dimples…
The door suddenly opened.]
Claire stood in the doorway, holding a familiar shopping bag–the baby items I’d hidden in the back of my closet. A tiny blue sock peeked out from the top.
She had lost weight, her chin sharp enough to cut glass, but her eyes remained haughty.
Claire gently caressed her slightly rounded belly, tilting her head with a smile.
“Lina, you paid for my education, and now you’ve even prepared clothes for my baby. How thoughtful of you.”
Fury exploded within me. I grabbed my pillow and hurled it at her, but she nimbly dodged.
When the hospital door opened again, she had conveniently fallen to the floor.
Claire instantly burst into tears, hands protectively cradling her stomach.
“I only wanted to share my happy news with you. Why must you treat me this way? This is our child too.
Ryan rushed in, dismay evident on his face when he saw Claire curled up and wailing.
“Lina, you’re being completely unreasonable! How can you be so heartless?”
I calmly met Ryan’s angry gaze, my heart utterly still.]
1
me.0
He was enjoying the fresh excitement Claire brought into his life while playing the righteous judge in front of me.
As for the child…
I smiled coldly.
What a convenient coincidence.
I raised my hand and made a phone call
