Chapter 6

When Whitney's eyes fluttered open again, Colton was there by her hospital bed, his eyes red with fear.

He clutched her hand, his voice a shaky whisper.

"Whitney, I had no idea about the avalanche... I'm so sorry, so very sorry..."

His fingers were icy, yet his palm was slick with sweat, as if he were afraid she would slip away.

"Yell at me, hit me, do whatever you need to do..."

Suddenly, the door to the room burst open with a loud bang, and Janice stumbled in, her eyes puffy and red.

"Mrs. Jones, this is all my fault. Please don't be mad at Mr. Jones..."

Her tears flowed freely, painting her as the picture of misery.

"Mr. Jones was out of his mind with worry for you. When he heard about the avalanche, he didn't think twice before running into danger to find you, and now he's all bruised and battered..."

"Stop!"

Colton cut her off, spinning around to pull her into a comforting hug. "This isn't your fault, and the doctor said tears are bad for the baby."

Whitney watched them, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.

The irony was not lost on her. She had just dodged a bullet, cheated death, and there he was, fussing over another woman's tears.

Whitney rasped, "Leave. I want everyone out."

Colton froze, "Whitney..."

"Out, I said!"

Her hand shot out, seizing the water glass from the bedside table and hurling it to the floor where it shattered, shards flying.

Finally, Colton retreated with Janice, glancing back at Whitney repeatedly before the door closed behind them.

In the days that followed, Colton tried everything to win her back.

He sent flowers flown in from who knows where and designer bags. He constantly checked in with her, but she stayed quiet.

She was not mad anymore, nor did she offer him a smile. She looked at him as if he were a stranger.

On discharge day, Colton showed up to take her home.

Dragging her suitcase, Whitney beelined for a cab.

Colton had been waiting since dawn at the hospital doors.

She had no intention of riding with him and turned to walk away.

That was when he pulled a whip from the trunk and held it out to her.

"Whitney, go ahead. Hit me."

She froze.

His voice was rough. "If it'll make you feel better, if it means you can forgive me… Hit me all you want."

He paused, then softened his demeanor. "We've got a family dinner tonight. Let's not fight, okay?"

She looked at him, the urge to laugh rising again.

Did he really think they were still the same? That he could mess up, she would get mad, he would sweet-talk her, and all would be forgiven?

He was so wrong.

She did not take the whip. Instead, she turned around and climbed into his car.

She had not forgiven him. She simply did not care anymore.

All along the ride, Colton kept the conversation going nonstop. He chatted about everything from the latest office gossip to funny childhood memories, even teasing about the time Whitney took a tumble into a fountain on their first date.

In the past, she would have turned beet red and playfully shushed him. However, she just gazed out the window, wordless.

The old Jones mansion was all lit up.

The moment Whitney walked into the living room, she spotted Janice cozy on the couch, chatting with Colton's grandmother, Tessa Scott, who was holding her hand with warmth.

Colton quickly took Whitney's hand. "Grandma really wanted to see her. I was worried you'd be upset, so that's why I kept it to myself..."

Whitney pulled her hand away softly. "It's fine."

She really did not mind anymore.

Tessa, still holding Janice's hand, beamed with affection, but her smile faded to a frosty expression when she turned to Whitney.

"After all this time married and not a single child! Janice, on the other hand, is such a delight. Janice, make sure you visit me more often..."

Whitney's hand froze for a second. There was a time when Tessa had doted on her just as much. When did things start to change?

It was probably the moment she admitted she did not want kids.

However, the decision to remain childless was not hers alone.

She could still recall the stormy night after he proposed; her anxiety about marriage had her hiding out at her best friend's place, avoiding Colton. He had scoured the city for her in the pouring rain, finally breaking into her friend's house at three in the morning, kneeling before her, soaking wet.

"Whitney, what did I do wrong?"

She was a mess of tears. "I'm scared... I'm scared it'll hurt... I'm scared of getting married, and I'm terrified of having kids..."

What had Colton said back then? He cradled her face, promising her with every word.

"Then, we won't have kids. If our folks give us grief, I'll just say I'm the one who can't."

However, the man who had once vowed he would never father a child was gently mixing prenatal formula for Janice.