Chapter 4

"Oh, right. Your advisor mentioned some kind of confidential project. What's that ab—"

Before he could finish, I pushed my weakened body up and slapped him hard across the face.

"Shane, are you even human? Isn't this baby yours too? How could you just stand there and watch us die?"

Shane ran his tongue along the corner of his mouth, and a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. He was about to explain himself when the door suddenly swung open and Mira walked in.

"Leila, so you already know the baby isn't Shane's?"

"W-What did you just say?"

I could hardly believe my ears, and my hand instinctively went to my stomach.

If this baby was not Shane's, then whose was it?

"That's partly my fault. That night, I twisted my ankle and called Shane, so he left you there drunk and came to take care of me. As for who went into your room afterward and spent the night with you, we honestly have no idea.

"But don't worry. Shane said he'll raise the baby as his own—"

"Mira!" Shane's face turned ashen, and for once, he snapped at her to stop.

"Shane, is she telling the truth?"

That night, I had blacked out after drinking a cocktail Shane had mixed especially for me. All this time, I had believed he simply had not used protection.

Yet now I was being told that the man that night had been a stranger all along.

Shane said nothing, but the way he avoided my eyes confirmed everything.

"Get out! Both of you, get out!"

I smashed everything in the room I could get my hands on, screaming myself hoarse until the two of them left my hospital room.

I clenched my fists and pounded them against my stomach again and again. I did not dare imagine who the father really was.

I was even more afraid to imagine what had happened to me that night.

A nurse rushed in at the commotion and was startled by the scene in front of her. She had to give me a sedative before I finally calmed down.

When I woke up again, Professor Bastow was sitting by my bed.

He did not ask any questions or try to comfort me. He only said one thing.

"We're digging the artifacts out of the Holcroft burial ground tonight. Are you coming?"

I held back my tears and got up to leave with him without a moment's hesitation.

Yet before we could even leave the base camp, someone blocked our way.

"So there really is a confidential project, Professor Bastow. Don't you think keeping it from your sponsor is a little out of line?"

Shane avoided my hate-filled glare and spoke only to my advisor.

"What exactly are you implying, Mr. Holcroft?"

Shane ruffled Mira's hair. "I'm not implying anything. Mira is just eager to learn. She's interested in this confidential project and wants to tag along and see what all the fuss is about."

"You—"

Professor Bastow was so angry he swayed on his feet. I hurried over to steady him and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Fine. If you and Ms. Sutton are that interested, Mr. Holcroft, then you're both welcome to come along."

Shane smiled smugly and opened the car door for Professor Bastow and me.

As I brushed past him, he lowered his voice. "I won't hold what happened that night against you. This baby is our baby.

"As long as you keep Mira happy like you did today, I promise you'll still be the same Mrs. Holcroft you've always been."

I ignored him, lowered my head, and got into the car.

I would never be that Mrs. Holcroft again. After tonight, the entire Holcroft family would cease to exist.

When the car reached its destination, Shane recognized the hill where the Holcroft family burial ground was located.

He put his arm around Mira and made her a promise. "This whole hill belongs to the Holcrofts. Whatever this confidential project is, if you want in, all it takes is one word from me."

Professor Bastow and I exchanged a look. We ignored Shane and let him eagerly lead the way.

"Mira, my family chose this hill years ago because it was the finest land around. Look over here. My grandfather and my great-grandfather are both—"

His voice cut off abruptly. Shane froze at the sight before him, and all the color drained from his face.