Chapter 7
Despair clawed its way up from the depths of my soul, tightening its grip with every second.
I thought about that day I walked out of the hospital, making a solemn promise to protect my baby no maner now, things were changed.
Baby, I’m so sorry. Mommy might not be able to keep that promise. I don’t want to lose you–I can’t lose you
Tears blurred my vision, hot streaks burning against my cold cheeks. Pain tore through me, sharp and unrelenting | clutched my stomach as my thoughts spirales. I haven’t even seen your little face yet. I haven’t heard you call me MonoG
My body was freezing, trembling uncontrollably. The pain only grew worse, and my world started to dim at the nig my consciousness slipping, even as my heart screamed to hold on
Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the silence. The door slammed open, hitting the wall with a force that echoed through the room. Through my half–lidded eyes, I saw a figure burst in, panic etched across his familiar, chiseled face.
“Quinn..” I whispered, ny voice so faint I wasn’t even sure it escaped my lips.
The dizziness hit me hard, and I blinked, trying to focus. Was he really here? Or was my mind playing tricks on the
It didn’t make sense–why would Quinn, of all people, be here? The sky outside was still black as ink. He had
come back.
–
Before I could piece it together, his strong arms swept me up, pulling me against his chest. The warmth of his body brobe through the freezing numbness, and his pounding heartbeat thundered in my ears.
Quinn… Was he scared? Why!
“Natalia, look at me!” His voice was raw, commanding, laced with a panic I’d never heard from him before. “Don’t you dare close your eyes!”
But his words sounded distant, like they were coming from underwater. My eyelids felt like lead, no matter how hard I fought to keep them open. His face was the last thing I saw before the darkness dragged me under completely.
When I came to, I was lying in a hospital bed. My body felt weak, but my first instinct was to touch my belly.
“Relax, the baby’s fine, a familiar voice reassured me.
I turned my head to see Jenna sitting beside me, her face etched with a mix of anger and concern. “Why didn’t you tell me and your father you were pregnant?” she demanded, her tone sharp.
“I’m sorry, Mom, I murmured, unsure how to explain myself.
She sighed, a heavy, tired sound that softened her anger just a little. “Look, since you’re already pregnant focus on staying healthy. You know how much this child means to everyone. Deliver safely, and everything will get easier for you.”
Her words twisted like a knife in my chest. Even to her, my child was just another piece in some larger game. A bargaining chip.
When she was done talking. I met her gaze, my voice low but steady. “Mom, I’ll have this baby, but I’m raising him out my
“What are you talking about? Her eyes widened, shock giving way to a simmering fury. “You’re still planning to divorce Quinn just because Diana’s back? Have I raised a spineless coward? Someone tries to steal your husband, and you just hand him over on a silver platter?”
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Chapter 7
Hearing her call me “daughter” made me want to laugh. The irony was suffocating. Maybe she used to think of me that way. -before Skylar came back. But now?
What Jenna didn’t know was that Diana wasn’t just after Quinn. She wanted my child, too. And over my dead body was I going to let that happen.
Tve made up my mind.” I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for debate. Thanks for staying with me, Mom. But you should go home and get some rest.”
She stared at me, dumbfounded. The defiance in my voice must’ve thrown her off. But then her expression twisted into pure tage.
“Natalia, you ungrateful brat she snapped, jumping to her feet. “Your father loves you, and this is how you repay him? The Maddens are offering 650 thousand dollars! If you screw this up. I swear, I’ll never forgive you!”
Her words felt like a slap. My stomach churned, my heart squeezing painfully in my chest. So that was why she’d come here. Not to comfort me, not out of love, but to secure the deal and the payday.
She stormed out in a flurry of clicking heels, leaving me curled up under the blanket, tears silently streaming down my face.
I cried until my body gave out, exhaustion dragging me under.
When I woke again, the sky outside the window was pitch black,
My throat felt like sandpaper. I dragged myself out of bed, hoping to grab some water, but froze when I caught voices
from outside the room.
coming
“Mr. Madden, here’s the footage from your office. It clearly shows Miss Terrell locking the door from the outside,” said Finn Maynard, Quinn’s chief assistant.
“I see,” Quinn replied coolly, his tone as unreadable as ever.
The glass in my hand slipped and shattered on the floor with a piercing crash. The noise echoed sharply, drawing the attention of the people outside.
The door flew open, and Quinn strode in, his movements brisk and purposeful. His eyes flicked to the broken glass before landing on me. Without hesitation, he scooped me up and gently laid me back down on the bed.
Then, he went over to the coffee table, poured a glass of water, and handed it to me. “Drink this,” he said, his voice steady and calm.
I didn’t take it. Instead, I stared at him, my mind replaying Finn’s words.
Last night, Diana had known I was in that room. She’d deliberately locked the door before walking away. If Quinn hadn’t come back when he did, my baby and I might not have survived the night.
Diana had nearly killed us. And yet, even after seeing the proof, Quinn did nothing–no anger, no confrontation, not even a
flicker of emotion.
Did the child I was carrying mean that little to him? Did I mean that little to him?
Quinn met my gaze without flinching, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he sat down on the edge of the bed. He gently propped me up, brought the glass to my lips, and tilted in lightly. “You need to drink something. Are you hungry?
Just say the word, and I’ll have anything you want brought up,” he said, his tone almost too casual, like we were discussing the weather.
The sudden show of concern felt like a slap in the face. He was doing this for me he was doing it for the baby.
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Chapter 7
The bitterness welled up inside me, sharp and acidic. “Don’t you think the child at least deserves an explanation?” I rasped. my voice dry and cracked.
Quinn frowned, his voice low and measured. “Diana didn’t know you were pregnant. She was just being impulsive.”
Just impulsive?” I echoed, a bitter laugh escaping my lips, How laughable. When a man spoils a woman, no matter how outrageous her actions, he’ll always find excuses to cover for her
I lowered my gaze, feeling a knot tighten in my chest. After a moment of silence, I whispered, “Quinn, let’s get a divorce.”
It was the second time I’d formally asked him. My voice trembled, betraying my nerves. “I don’t want anything from the Maddens–not a single penny. Just let me and the baby go. You and Diana… you’re still young. If you want kids, you can-” Before I could finish, his hand shot out, clamping tightly around my wrist. The sudden pressure made me flinch.
“Natalia,” he snapped, his tone as sharp as a blade. His brown eyes, usually unreadable, now swirled with a stormy intensity. “The child you’re carrying is mine.”
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. His gaze was piercing, his grip unrelenting. For a moment, I couldn’t tell if his anger stemmed from possessiveness, pride, or something deeper.
I stared at him, my lips curling into a bitter smile. “So what?” I challenged, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Are you planning to hand the baby over to Diana too?”
I said it deliberately, hoping to remind him of the woman he was so determined to defend. Diana hated me, and if she ever got her hands on my child, she’d treat him the way she treated me–with cruelty and disdain.
I could let go of everything Diana had done to me. I could walk away with nothing. But I couldn’t–wouldn’t–let her near my baby. All I wanted was to protect my child.
“You don’t get to ask for a divorce, Quinn said, his voice cold enough to freeze the air between us. His grip on my wrist tightened, sending a sharp sting up my arm.
His lips curved into a mocking smile as he leaned in, his breath Warm against my ear. The low timbre of his voice sent a chill down my spine. “Two years ago, I gave you the chance to leave. Now? It’s too late.”
B
