LOGINI was standing in line at the counter when I heard it.
![]()
~Evangeline~I stood there, frozen, staring at Nicholas.He couldn't be serious. He couldn't actually mean what he'd just said.But his eyes told me he was completely serious."I can be the father," he said again, his voice stronger now, more certain. "I don't care about biology or blood. I don't care whose child it technically is. I want to be there. I want to raise this baby with you. I want us to be a family."My heart clenched so hard it hurt. The pain was physical, spreading through my chest and making it difficult to breathe.I'd never expected this. Never imagined that someone like Nicholas, proud, powerful, always in control would abandon his dignity like this. Would offer to raise another man's child just to be with me.I wasn't happy. I should have been happy. This was everything I'd secretly wanted, everything I'd dreamed about in my weakest moments.But all I felt was sad. Because he was willing to give up so much. His pride, his reputation, the expectations of his family
~Evangeline~Everyone at the table seemed to freeze for a moment.The easy conversation that had been flowing stopped abruptly as they all processed what Nicholas had just allowed to happen with Serena.Eleanor looked confused, her brow furrowing. Sarah frowned, clearly not understanding. Richard Junior exchanged glances with Adan, both of them seeming uncertain about what they
~Evangeline~I went back to my room, feeling emotionally drained.Too much had happened in too short a time. The car accident. The hospital. The family drama with Serena. All of it piling on top of the mess with Nicholas and the baby and my identity crisis.I needed to sleep. To shut my brain off for a few hours and just exist without thinking.
~Evangeline~I stood there, stunned by what he had just said.Serena was adopted?That explained why Serena wasn't included in that count.But why? If she'd been adopted years ago, why did the family not mention her when introducin
~Evangeline~I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the door."Come in," I called, sitting up carefully.A man walked in, tall, well-dressed, with the same sharp features as Adan. Had to be his older brother."Good morning,
~Adan~I stared at Nicholas slumped over the bar, completely wasted, and felt a migraine starting behind my eyes.This was my territory. My family's bar. And here was Nicholas Caine, drunk off his ass, crying over a woman who didn't want him."Brandon," I called to Nicholas's Beta. "Get him out of here. Take him home before he makes more of a scene."
ALEXANDERI’d noticed Evangeline’s worsening behavior a long time ago, but I never really had to worry about it.After all, I had Margaret by my side, and she offered comfort when Evangeline couldn’t. She always validated my opinions regarding Evangeline and she saw just as I did that Eva was a bra
EVANGELINEI knew my wolf was right, so I forced my breathing to even and turned away from Margaret, trying to put her cruel smile and wicked laugh out of my mind.“Let me see you to the door,” I said to the officers.The female was clearly shocked by my calmness. I’d have enough practice over the
MARGARETI saw Evangeline walk into the hospital, and I saw the way she paused at the entrance to watch me.I tried to ignore her, focusing on my task of trying to win the favor of the nurses again, but they ignored me. They’d been doing it all morning, but it didn’t start to hurt until Evangeline
EVANGELINEI could tell the person was still out there. I didn’t know how, but a part of me just knew.I sat up straighter, summoning whatever shreds of pride I had left and cleared my throat.“Who is that?” I called out, but no one responded. “I saw you, you know? You were eavesdropping on a conve







