Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 41 - Chapitre 50

GWEN POVI was sitting at my small desk in my room, trying to focus on my textbooks. The house was quiet until a loud, heavy knock echoed from the front door. I sighed, checking the clock. It was late. I figured it was my dad. He usually stayed at the bar until he couldn't find his own keys and needed his friends to walk him to the porch.I pulled open the door, ready to scold him. But it wasn't my father.Nolan Douglas stood there. For a second, my heart stopped. He looked like a prince from a movie, dressed in a sharp, expensive tuxedo. But then I looked at his face. His eyes were red and glassy, and his jaw was tight with pure hatred. He smelled like expensive whiskey and cold air."Are you a gold digger, or just a fucking damn liar?"His voice was like a whip. I flinched, stepping back into the hallway. I wanted to slam the door, but I was frozen. April must have told him. She must have told him I was pregnant. I thought he would be happy to be able to get rid of me. He had to kno

NOLAN POVAn incessant buzzing pulled me from a heavy sleep. I was face down on my bed. My head felt like it was being hit by a jackhammer, and my mouth was as dry as sandpaper. I groaned, reaching blindly in the dark for my phone.The screen blinded me for a second. It was 3:30 AM. The caller was my daughter, April.In an instant, I was wide awake. The alcohol in my system seemed to vanish. I swiped the screen and pressed it to my ear."April? What's wrong?""I'm sorry to call you so early, Dad," she said. Her voice was shaking. "But it's an emergency. It’s Gweneth."I scrambled to my feet. I started looking for my clothes, only to realize I was still wearing my tuxedo from the night before. I was a mess, but I didn't care."What happened?" I asked, stumbling toward the door. My mind was sharp, but my legs were still wobbly. I knew I couldn't drive. I’d have to call a car."She’s in the hospital," April cried.I stopped walking and leaned heavily against the hallway wall. My heart dr

GWEN POVI opened my eyes slowly. Everything was blurry at first. The room was white and smelled like medicine. I saw April sitting in a chair near the window. She was looking at a magazine, but she wasn't turning the pages.Then, it all hit me. The blood. The pain. The terrifying fear of losing my baby. And Nolan. He had been there. He knew the truth now."Hey," April said. She stood up and walked to my bed. Her voice was soft, but her eyes looked tired. "How are you feeling?""Am I okay?" I whispered. My throat felt dry. "Is the baby...?""The baby is fine, Gwen. You’re both fine," April said. She reached out and touched my hand. "The doctors want to watch you for a little bit, but they say everything looks good."I let out a long breath. I felt like I could finally breathe again. But when I looked at April, she wasn't smiling. She looked serious."Were you ever going to tell me?" she asked.I didn't want to lie anymore. It was too late for that. "Did your dad tell you everything?"

NOLAN POVMy ex wife used to look at me with the same loathing that Gwen did, but it hadn't bothered me. But Gwen’s hatred of me was difficult to swallow because I knew it was my fault. I was angry that she hadn't told me about the baby, that she hadn't planned to, but I understood the reasons and couldn't blame her for them. As I exited the room and headed up the hallway to the kitchen where I heard Sam, I realized I hadn't apologized for my behavior. I had admitted it, but mostly, I had focused on my intent to be in her and the baby's lives. I stopped in the middle of the hallway, cursing myself for being so self-centered and selfish. I wanted to turn around and go back, to let her know how profusely sorry I was and how I wanted to make it up to her. But I couldn't face her looking at me with such revulsion. Especially since she was pale and tired. Once again, the best thing I could do for her would be to leave her alone. That didn't mean I wouldn't look out for her and the ba

GWEN POVI awoke the next morning ready to start my life as usual but then remembered my life wasn't usual anymore. I was supposed to be resting, which meant I wouldn't be doing student teaching. It was probably just as well. My life was in turmoil. I wanted Nolan out of my life, but I knew that wasn't a possibility. Not now that he knew about the baby. I needed to use this rest time to figure out what I was going to do to protect my rights.Looking at my phone at the side of my bed, I saw it was nearly eight in the morning. Dad would have already left for work, which meant I had the house to myself. I got out of bed, stopping by the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth, and then made my way to the kitchen to fix myself tea and maybe some toast.I nearly came out of my skin when I saw someone sitting at the kitchen table. Nolan.What was he doing here? He looked up at me, his eyes taking inventory of my body. It wasn't a sexual look. More like he was checking to ma