Chapter 4

My whole body trembled as I shoved Miles’s glass of water away.

"I'm not drinking it. I'm leaving."

The moment I took a single step, Quinn’s friends closed in around me, forming a tight circle.

A deep, creeping sense of wrongness flooded me, and before I could ask what was happening, a sharp sting pierced the back of my neck.

Cold medication spread rapidly through my veins.

Through my blurred vision, I saw one of the women lift a syringe and twirl it smugly between her fingers.

"Strong sedatives," she said with a smirk. "Guaranteed to knock you out fast so Quinn can give birth in peace."

I dug my nails into my palm, forcing myself to stay conscious. My eyes burned as I stared at Quinn, hoping, begging that some sliver of conscience might spark in her.

However, she looked away. Right in front of me, she let Miles slide an arm around her waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Relax," Quinn said calmly. "Miles will handle everything. Delivering a month premature isn’t a big deal. You just need to sleep. When you wake up, you'll be a father."

Her tone was light and indifferent, like she was discussing something utterly insignificant.

I fell straight into the abyss.

My strength drained rapidly. My mind grew foggy. They dragged me into a small lounge while outside, countless cameras were being set up as they prepared to broadcast this so-called 'medical miracle', a live procedural demonstration for allergy treatment using me as the patient.

Miles dropped the last of his mask, sneering as he stared at my pitiful state.

"Noah, just sleep tight and wait to become the father of our child. We really do appreciate your contribution.

"You've always wanted a kid, right? After today’s live demo, I guarantee you’ll be famous nationwide. You're the perfect husband! You'll get all the attention!"

I tried to steady my breathing, but the sedatives hit me in relentless waves. My tongue was heavy. I couldn't even speak.

Miles patted my face with smug cruelty.

"Rest well. You'll be a household name soon."

As he left, I forced myself to roll off the sofa, hitting the ground hard enough to jolt my fading consciousness. With every last ounce of strength, I activated the mini recorder and the listening device hidden in my sleeve, then crawled toward the ventilation duct.

Outside, muffled voices floated through the door.

"Don't worry, Quinn. The sedative has additives to mess with his memory. When he wakes up, he'll just think he fainted from getting overly emotional."

Quinn finally exhaled in relief. "As long as he accepts the baby, I can fix everything afterward. I’ll make sure he stops being allergic to me."

I leaned against the freezing metal of the duct, my heart utterly dead.

Clenching my teeth, I dialed Sylvia Sullivan, my lawyer.

"Evan, is everything ready? Move according to plan."

I was sure Quinn and Miles would love this gift.

Meanwhile, Quinn and the others were busy setting up before the cameras, preparing for the big broadcast.

Suddenly, the massive screen above the venue lit up right on schedule.

The next second, every guest in the room gasped in shock.

Quinn snapped her head up, following their horrified stares to the giant livestream display…