CHAPTER NINE
The maming sun felt too bright as Ariasat at the edge of the hotel bed, watching Marcus process her news. His pacing had woman invisible track in the plush
“Mine?” His voice was rough, desperate. “You’re sure it’s mine?”
The emptiness inher chest, powned wider Sofials absence!
Estrange vold – no target for her rage, in face to furss her hatred on. “The timing hits”
Marcus dropped to his knees before her, pressing his face against het still–fat stomach, “My child Durchild.” His hands gripped her hips possessively “This
Does it?” The words came out hollow
→We’ll tell David after an appropriate time has passed. I’ll handle the , the transition. You’ll
I want for nothing” His eyes had a feveted gleam. “I’ll buy you a house in the meantime, somewhere private. We can meet freely.”
“Umutil engaged to your son ” The teminder teli tikeasties in her mouth.
Marcus’s grip tightened. “Not for long. This baby – this is destiny, Arla. The universe givin
She extracted herself from his grasp, standing on shaby legs. ““I need time to think.”
“Of course, et course. “He followed her movements like a starving main watching food. “But don’t take too long. We need to start planning. I want doctors–the best secunty detail. You’ll need protection now more thanever
Η
The possess in his voler made her skin crand. Or maybe that was just morning sickness.
“I’ll call you,” she said, gathering her things.
She didn’t
Instead, she drove to a dinic three towns over, paid in cash, and erased all evidence of the Holloway heir growing inside her.
Two weeks later, during the memorial concert for Sofia, Ariaclutched her abdomen and collapsed mid–performance. The timing was perfect – just as the violin. solo should have started, the solo that would have been Sodia’s.
The headlines wrote themselves “Pregnant Conductor Suffers Tragic Loss During Memorial Concert”
she played her part flawlessly. The grief–stricken fiancée, devastated by the loss of both her protégé and her unborn child. The crowds atrit up, sending flowers,
Dand found her in their bedroom that evening. still in her concert blacks,
Were you ever going to tell me? His voice cracked like thin ice. “About the baby?
Ama wrapped her arms around herself, the phantom pain in her abdomen not entirely take. “I was waiting for the right time.”
“The night time?” He laughed, sharp and bitter. “Like when you collapsed in front of three hundred people?”
was trying to protect you. You’ve been so distant lately, so preoccupied-
It was imp child
The words hung between them. Ara bit back a hysterical laugh. If he only knew.
needed space,“ star whispried. To process everything. Sofia’s death, the pregnancy……. It was too much.”
David’s face hardened “Space. Right.” He grabbed his keys. “Well, now you’ll have plenty of ji
The day passed. Thentive Thenaweek
fance. The wouds died in her throat when she saw the state of the room.
A finally marked him down at his office, prepared to play the grieving, repent
Empty whiskey bondes littered lils desk. Newspaper clippings about Solu’s death covered one wall, connected by red string like some detective’s evidence board. Post–it notes in David’s increasingly messy handwriting asked questions like “Why was she on the roof?” and “Check security footage.”
clothes were wrinkled, hisdair washed “home, Aila ”
stepped closer, seeing the browser tabs open to various police reports. “Thisisn’t healthy.”
“Healthy?” He finally looked at lart, eyes bloodshot. ” sotia is dead, and everyone’s just accepting that she accidentally tell? it doesn’t make sense.”
é police investigated. It was a laugh accidrid.”
His gade was unconfortably sharp despite the alcuduit. “What were you doing there that day, Arta?”
king for my student, who had been struggling. The lie came easily. “I’ve already told the police everything”
David turned back to his computer. “Ineed to work
me little laugh. “Where you’ve been lying to me? Where you lost our baby and i had to find out in front of lusheds of people?” emptiness in Aria’s chest suddenly filled with familiar rage, die dated to accuse berelt lying? While he investigated the death of his mistress, mourning het in
“Fine – die said, het vune dipped:“Stay herewith you bottles
by her deed for revenge. But
The slammed the door behind her, her mind already racing with new plans. She’d thunght solta’s death would be rough, would satisfy
CHAPTER NINE
sering David like this, obsessing over his dead lover while accusing her of betrayal?
Her lips curved into a sharp smile as she got into her car. She’d bumed his happiness. Now it was time to burn his world.
