Chapter 4

Whitney took a deep breath, pulled out her phone, and called a real estate agent. She put all the properties in her name on the market for a quick sale.

After hanging up, she crumpled the abortion consent form into a ball and stuffed it into her bag.

When she got home, she noticed a pair of high heels covered in rhinestones in the entryway.

She glanced at the canvas sneakers on her feet but said nothing. She lowered her head and changed her shoes.

"I thought if he was going to spite me, he'd at least find someone better than me."

Winona's voice came from the living room.

Whitney looked up and saw her lounging on the couch in a burgundy silk nightgown.

Winona lifted her eyes, giving her a once-over from head to toe.

"Never thought he'd end up with someone so dowdy."

Whitney glanced at the shoe cabinet in the entryway.

The designer shoes Lennox had bought her filled the cabinet, yet the pair she wore most often was still her canvas sneakers.

She lifted her gaze and met Winona's eyes. Winona really was stunning.

"I may come from an ordinary family," Whitney said calmly, "but I was raised to respect myself and know my worth."

Winona's expression darkened.

Whitney ignored her and headed straight upstairs to her bedroom.

But Winona followed and grabbed her by the wrist.

"I was raised to believe that nothing I wanted was ever beyond my reach. Like finding a father for the baby I'm carrying."

Whitney blurted out, "Then what about my child's father? Who am I supposed to turn to?"

She regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth. She shouldn't have wasted her breath arguing with her.

She tried to pull her hand free, her voice weary.

"Let go of me. If you want Lennox, go ahead and take him. I don't want him anymore."

But Winona refused to let go.

"Take him? Why would I settle for that?" A cold glint flashed in her eyes. "I'm going to make him beg me to be the father of my child."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly threw herself backward, still gripping Whitney's hand.

Winona crashed into her, and the two of them tumbled down the stairs together.

Whitney broke the fall, bearing the full weight of both of them.

Winona let out a scream.

Whitney's vision went dark.

By the time Lennox came running at the sound, Winona's face was already streaked with tears.

He froze for a moment. "What happened?"

Whitney struggled to push herself halfway up from the floor. "She suddenly grabbed me, and I..."

"I wanted to apologize to Ms. Westbrook," Winona interrupted, tears streaming down her face. "She may have misunderstood me and didn't want to hear me out."

Lennox looked at Whitney and slowly asked, "So you pushed Nona down the stairs?"

Whitney shook her head, trying to explain.

But wave after wave of cramping pain surged through her lower abdomen, and she struggled to force out a few words.

"Take me to the hospital."

Lennox bent down and helped Winona to her feet, then carefully settled her onto the couch and checked her for injuries.

Only after he'd done all that did he turn to look at Whitney, who was still lying on the floor.

"Apologize to Nona, and I'll take you to the hospital right away."

Whitney looked at the face she had once known so well.

When he smiled, the corners of his eyes would lift slightly. When he was nervous, he would press his lips together without realizing it. When he told her he loved her, he would look into her eyes.

But now, he believed only Winona, not the wife who had shared his bed.

A warm trickle of fluid slid down her body.

Nola's translucent body flashed through Whitney's mind.

Gritting her teeth, she stared at Winona and forced out each word. "I'm sorry."

Winona raised her eyebrows slightly at her, but her voice was full of hurt.

"Maybe I should just leave. I'm pregnant and living under your roof. People are bound to talk."

Lennox covered her hand with his. "Just make yourself at home. No one will dare say a word. I'll make sure your child has everything they need."

Lying on the floor, Whitney thought in despair, "What about my child?"

Lennox finally remembered Whitney. Without even turning around, he ordered the housekeeper, Melissa Morgan, to call an ambulance.

After the paramedics carried Whitney away in the ambulance, Melissa pointed with a trembling hand at the pool of blood at the foot of the stairs.

"M-Mr. Graham, the blood..."

Lennox followed her pointing finger. A muscle jumped between his brows.