Chapter 2

Alice’s POV

My hands flew to my belly as the first contraction hit. It was a dull ache but I feared for the safety of my baby. 

“Make sure she delivers the baby fast. We don’t have much time before Adam arrives,” My father instructed the nurses.

“Dad, I feel claustrophobic here. Can we go outside?” Lily asked, making an innocent face. He nodded, and they walked out. It hurt to not see him by side while giving birth. 

“Take good care of my daughter.” Dad told the nurse. 

I looked at him through sweaty eyelids. He still cared for me. 

But he proved me wrong the second he pointed at Lily. 

“Take care of Lily. She’s my true gem since she’s the future wife of the Kastner family,” He muttered and I swallowed the disappointment down my throat. He didn’t care about his own daughter who was going through so much pain. 

The moment the nurses stepped out as well, I saw my chance to run.

My fingers trembled as I ripped the IV needle from my hand. I needed to see Jace. He needed to know that his baby would be handed to someone else.

I slipped off the bed and wrapped myself in Lily’s brown coat she had left here before darting out the side door. The service corridor was nearly empty.

I crossed under the EXIT sign and into the cold morning. Head down, I went straight to the main road and caught a cab.The cab dropped me to Jace’s apartment. 

I rang his doorbell and he answered the door a few minutes later. He stared at me, clearly startled. “Alice? What are you doing here?” The look on his face didn’t sit right with me, but I ignored the feeling. 

I walked inside and said in a hurry, “My dad’s forcing me to give birth to our baby. He wants to hand it to Lily.” 

His brows shot up. “What?” 

I nodded, settling on the chair, feeling the contractions getting more painful with each minute. I felt so much safer that now I was with him. Jace would find a way to protect the baby. 

“So…you’re going into labor?” he asked. 

I smiled at him, and touched my protruding belly. “Yeah. Can you believe it? We are going to be parents.” 

“Give the baby to your dad, Alice.” Jace replied coldly. My smile slipped. 

I blinked at him, wondering if I heard him right. “Jace, what are you saying? Have you lost your mind?” 

He snorted. “Do you think you’re so important to me that I’ll go against your father to keep that piece of shit?” he pointed at my belly. “You’re the one who has lost your mind.” 

“Jace…” I fumbled for words as I couldn’t believe what I heard. Why would he behave like this suddenly?

I tried to gather my thoughts. “I understand if you’re scared of my dad. We’ll figure it out,” I held his hand. “Please, Jace. I know how much you love me and this child—” 

I couldn’t finish speaking as he started to laugh hysterically. I frowned at him, wondering what was so funny. 

“God,” he scoffed, his blue eyes turning icy. “Love you? Alice, I fucking hate you!” He shoved my hand away.

My whole body shook as I stared at him, confused and hurt. 

“W-why?” I managed to blurt out as I looked at the man I loved. 

He grabbed me roughly by my chin. “You think you’re special? I chased after you for so many years thinking that you’re the only daughter of the esteemed Fairborn family and that’ll make me rich. Turns out, you’re just the abandoned trash of your father’s ex-wife!” 

The words landed like a brutal blow, and tears welled in my eyes.

“Stop, Jace. You’re hurting me.” I whimpered. Did he really want me for my dad’s money? 

“You were a waste of my time. I should have gone for Lily instead.” He thundered. 

“But I love you, Jace,” I said as the tears rolled down my eyes. “This baby is yours as much as mine. Don’t abandon it.” 

Just then he slapped me right across my face. For a second, I was stunned by the action. 

“This baby isn’t mine.” He declared and I looked at him with wide eyes. 

“What? We made love that day—” 

“That night, you were fucked by someone else. Probably a waiter or some drunk who spiked your drink. By the time I found you, you were already ruined,” he said, and the blood drained from my face.

My head spun at the revelation. Who did I sleep with that day if it wasn’t Jace? 

I held my head. I had no memories of that night. 

The last thing I remembered after taking that drink was being inside a room and being touched by a strong pair of arms. It felt so good at that moment I believed it was Jace. 

The fact that someone used my body while I wasn’t in my senses made me want to puke. 

“Why didn’t you do something?!” I shouted. “Didn’t you care that your girlfriend was raped by someone?” 

He scoffed. “Why would I? I am glad I didn’t have to do it with you. You don’t have a sexy body like Lily does. I wonder what that guy saw in you,” He gave me a dirty look that pricked my skin like a thousand needles. 

Was this really the Jace who used to look at me like I was the most beautiful girl? Sadly, I looked into his eyes, realizing he never loved me. I was just a tool. 

“Tell me, Jace. If you knew everything, then why didn’t you tell me? Or tell anyone?” I asked. 

“Where’s the profit in that?” he smirked, a dark look crossing his features. “It was good leverage against your dad. He allowed me to stay involved in the company in return for keeping this a secret.” His nose scrunched in disgust as his gaze lowered to my belly. “I don’t want that bastard child calling me dad anyway.” 

My lips trembled. “So… everything was fake?”

“Obviously.” 

The single word destroyed the last piece of hope I was holding onto.

My hands trembled. All these years I spent with him was a lie. “I loved you so deeply. I even stayed a virgin…” 

He mocked. “Who cares, Alice? You’re just a stupid, spoiled girl who fell for my charms.” He moved closer to me. “Anyway, they’re looking for you. Be a good girl and come with me.” 

The second he inched closer, I got up from my seat and slapped him with all the rage I had inside me. He was stunned by it and I used that chance to dash towards the door.