Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 241 - Chapitre 250

Ethan stared at her. For several seconds, he could not speak.Her dress hung from one shoulder. Her hair was dishevelled. Tears had already gathered in her eyes as though she had rehearsed them. And perhaps she had.Evelyn’s assistant looked from her to Ethan. “What happened?”“She’s lying.” His voice came out harder than he intended.The assistant flinched.Evelyn recoiled as though even the sound of his voice terrified her. “Don’t let him come near me.”“I haven’t touched her.”“You were holding my arms!”“Because she was trying to take my phone.”Evelyn’s lips trembled. “After he kissed me.”“You kissed me.”Her assistant’s gaze moved to the lipstick smeared at the corner of Ethan’s mouth.The open office door had already drawn attention. Two employees stood in the corridor, staring through the entrance. Another appeared behind them.Ethan saw the moment they formed their conclusion.A frightened woman with her dress pulled down, a man with her lipstick on his mouth and his tie han

A photograph had appeared online. Ethan was being led out of an office building in handcuffs. The caption claimed Sean Vale’s assistant had been arrested for assaulting a female executive.Aria’s face changed. “That’s Ethan.”Shannon looked closer. “What does this have to do with Sean?”“I don’t know.”“Who is the woman?”Aria scrolled quickly. Her thumb stopped. Her expression went cold. “Evelyn.”The name pulled every trace of colour from Shannon’s face.Kennedy took the phone. “That settles it. You’re not going anywhere near that woman.”“I’m not going there for Evelyn. I’m going for Sean.”“I’ll come with you,” Amelia said.Kennedy turned. “Amelia...”“She shouldn’t go alone, and if all of you appear there, reporters will follow. I’ll stay with her. We’ll find Sean and come straight back.”“I can go,” Aria argued.“If Ethan has also been arrested, he may need you here to contact your family,” Amelia said. “Keep trying Sean. Call the Vale attorney too.”Kennedy still looked unconvi

The outside noise disappeared. Inside the ambulance, everything became painfully small. The white walls, the medical equipment, the sharp smell of disinfectant, the monitor beside Shannon, and Shannon’s frightened breathing.Sean sat beside the stretcher with her hand trapped between both of his.The ambulance moved.Shannon flinched as it turned sharply onto the road.“Careful,” Sean snapped.The paramedic barely looked up. “We’re moving as steadily as we can.”“She’s in pain.”“I can see that.”“Then do something.”“Sean.” Shannon’s voice was barely audible.He turned towards her immediately.Tears slid into her hair. “What if something happened?”“Nothing happened.”“You don’t know that.”“The baby is fine.”“You don’t know.” Her voice broke completely.Sean lifted her hand to his lips. “The baby is fine,” he repeated, but this time the words trembled.She began crying harder. “I shouldn’t have gone there.”“Don’t.”“I should’ve listened to my father.”“This isn’t your fault.”“I k

Hundreds of miles away, Silas stared at the breaking news banner on the television. He had watched the footage three times. Each time, his attention returned to the same two words, our child.His face darkened. “Pregnant.”The word left him slowly.Darius had not known, none of them had.The proposal photograph had hidden Shannon’s body beneath the angle of her dress, and the family had kept the pregnancy from the public, until Sean announced it in front of dozens of cameras.Silas rose from his chair.The child would not merely inherit Sean Vale’s name. It would carry Miles blood, Vale blood, Voss blood. Three fortunes, three legacies, three families bound together inside one unborn child.That baby was wealthy before taking its first breath, protected before it had even entered the world, loved by people powerful enough to bring cities to their knees.Kennedy would have a grandchild, Amelia would have the chance to watch her daughter become a mother, the life stolen from her twenty

“The doctor said this stage of the pregnancy is delicate. Moving around too much won't help.”Shannon covered his hand with her own. “You can’t lock me inside an estate.”“Watch.”Despite everything, a faint laugh escaped her.Sean’s expression did not change. “I’m serious.”“I know you are.”“No going anywhere alone. No arguing with anyone. No work until the doctor clears you.”“Sean...”“No.”“You can’t order me to stop working.”“I can try.”“And I can ignore you.”His jaw tightened.Shannon studied him for a moment before her expression softened. “Fine. I’ll rest.”“Properly?”“Yes.”“You’ll let someone stay with you?”“Yes.”“You’ll call me if anything feels wrong?”“Sean.”“Promise me.”The fear in his voice returned.Shannon’s resistance disappeared. “I promise.”Sean bent and kissed her forehead then he lowered himself beside the bed and placed his lips against the hand resting over their child. “I’ll protect both of you,” he whispered.Shannon’s fingers moved gently through