Chapter 4

His men closed in at once and grabbed my arms roughly.

I fought with everything I had, and in the struggle, my back slammed into the door frame. Pain shot through me.

I looked at my baby in Erica's arms. His little face was still a bluish purple, and he was too weak to wail. All he could manage were faint whimpers.

My heart broke at the sight. I stopped struggling and let the bodyguards pin me to the floor.

"Carlos, I'm begging you!"

I looked up at him, my tears blurring everything.

"Call a doctor! The baby can barely breathe! If we don't get him help now, he'll die!"

Desperate for Erica to convince Carlos to help my baby, I swallowed my anger and begged her.

"Erica, please. For the baby's sake, I'll give up anything.

"I'll sign the divorce papers right now. You can have Carlos.

"All I'm asking is that you spare this innocent baby."

Erica watched me beg, her eyes filled with disgust.

"I'm sick of hearing this brat cry.

"I don't want him anymore."

She turned to Carlos, her eyes a little red.

"Carlos, the one thing I never got to do was wear a wedding dress for you."

She leaned into his chest. "Give me a big, beautiful wedding. That's my last wish."

Carlos looked taken aback, and a flicker of hesitation crossed his face.

But when he saw the tears in her eyes, he finally nodded.

Then he ordered his men to take me and the crying baby back to the estate and lock us in the basement.

Once we were back, Erica claimed she wasn't feeling well and asked to spend the night in the bedroom Carlos and I had shared for seven years.

Carlos nodded and let her have her way.

As Erica went upstairs, looking smug, Carlos turned and walked over to me.

He crouched down, tried to wipe the tears from my face, and spoke softly.

"Once tomorrow's wedding is over, Erica's final wish will be fulfilled.

"I'll send her overseas, and then everything can go back to the way it was between us, Emma."

Seeing the hatred in my eyes, Carlos raised his hand as if taking an oath.

"I swear I'll do twice as much to make it up to you.

"For now, get some rest. Tomorrow, you'll be attending my wedding to Erica."

He honestly believed that once Erica was sent abroad, I'd forgive him.

The iron basement door shut behind me, and at last everything went quiet.

I took off my coat, wrapped it tightly around the baby in my arms, and tried to warm his little hands with my body.

The basement wasn't soundproof. I could clearly hear Carlos and Erica laughing and chatting as they left to try on wedding dresses.

Their laughter grated on me, but I didn't care anymore.

Just then, the phone hidden in my clothes started buzzing.

When I answered, Arthur's low voice came through.

"Ms. Sinclair, the plane's ready. I'm getting you and the baby out of there now."

Ten minutes after I hung up, a commotion broke out outside. Two heavily armed guards forced their way into the basement and escorted me and my baby out.

Carlos had sent all his bodyguards to protect Erica, so the estate was practically unprotected.

Even now, he was sure I'd never walk out, that I couldn't bear to be apart from him.

I didn't look back at the estate I'd lived in for seven years. I just followed the guards to an airfield two and a half miles away.

Arthur was already waiting aboard the plane. He visibly relaxed when he saw us.

As I boarded, I turned to look back at the brightly lit estate on the hill.

It was strung with colored lights, and truckload after truckload of white roses was being hauled in. That was the love Carlos was giving another woman.

"Take off."

I looked away. My voice was cold.