Chapter 4

When he saw I was awake, Nolan quickly took my hand.

I didn't have the strength to pull away, so I forced out the words. "Nolan, what about your promise? My baby..."

Nolan let go of my hand. He turned his head away and wouldn't look me in the eye.

"Aria, let's just... pretend we never had this baby. Christine needs the respect that comes with being my child's mother. It's the only way my men will willingly protect her.

"Besides, Aria," Nolan said, his voice taking on a commanding edge, "Christine gave you her blood. She saved your life. Think of this as paying her back."

Nolan's words shattered the last of my illusions. The girl who'd fallen in love with him seven years ago had been laughably stupid!

When he saw the stubborn, bitter look in my eyes, Nolan frowned. His tone was final. "Aria, I'll give you anything except that baby. Once you've recovered, I'll make it up to you."

I closed my eyes. I didn't want to look at him anymore.

Years ago, a gang of street punks cornered me in an alley. They tore my clothes and stole the money I had on me. Right when things were about to get much worse, Nolan saved me. That was the first time I ever saw him.

He fought those punks off, put his jacket around my shoulders, and carried me out of the alley.

Back then, I thought heaven itself had sent him to save me.

Later, I ran into him again at the entrance to that alley. He said he worked at the docks, so I started going there to see him every day.

Every time, I brought him food I'd made myself. I picked out new clothes for him and spent what little I earned on him.

Before long, the guys at the docks could tell how I felt about Nolan, and they all teased us.

Nolan laughed and asked me, "I saved you once, and you fell in love with me, Aria? You'd still want to be with me, even if it meant struggling for the rest of your life?"

I saw my reflection in Nolan's eyes, and I looked back at him, shy and hopeful.

"Yes, Nolan. I do."

Back then, he'd saved me and given me hope and a new life. Now he'd pushed me into hell himself.

Nolan's phone rang shrilly. He answered and hurried out, leaving Christine and me alone in the room.

Christine showed her true colors again, gloating as she stood by my bed and mocked me.

"Poor Aria. Look at you. It breaks my heart.

"The husband who shared your bed for seven years never loved you. That must hurt, huh?

"Look at that. I gave up a little blood, and I got everything you had.

"You should've figured out a long time ago that he'd given up on you. Why keep putting yourself through this?"

Looking at her smug face, I felt my eyes burn, but my voice was lighter than it had ever been.

"Then good luck to you.

"I spent seven years with Nolan, and I still couldn't make him love me. What makes you think he won't throw you away someday too?"

Then I closed my eyes, not bothering to see Christine's reaction.

If she wanted Nolan and the baby so badly, she could have them both.

I didn't want any of it anymore. Not this place, not the baby, not my husband.