Chapter 177
Liam lay back against the pillows, one arm resting loosely above his head. This calm unsettled me more than an outburst could have I had braced for anger, a slammed door, the sharp edge of his vence but this silence felt like the air right before the lightning struck.
Then he lowered himself onto the mattress, stretching out and turning his face toward the ceiling.
“Let’s sleep. Emily”
That was all. No reaction, just those three words.
Sleep” How could he expect me to close my eyes when his calm was loaded with everything he hadn’t said?
1 got out of bed and crossed the room, settling into the armchair. My palms moved in slow circles over my stomach, grounding myself in the steady presence of the baby already tied to every choice I made Kelvin’s betrayal was unforgivable, but he was still Liam’s blood. And the thought of my child entering this world in the middle of a family war filled me with dread.
For a while, Liam ignored me. I closed my eyes, praying he was just cooling down. Then I felt his presence, the shift in the air as he moved. A moment later he lowered himself beside me, his knees brushing mine.
“Come back to bed, Emily.”
I opened my eyes, meeting his steady gaze. “Not until you tell me what you’re planning to do about Kelvin ”
He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand over his face. “If you want to plead for him, forget it. This time, I won’t listen.”
“I’m not pleading.” I whispered. “But…”
“No buts,” Liam snapped, his voice rising at last. “Do you even realize what he did? It wasn’t just reckless, it was illegal. Do you know what it cost us? You refused to come back to me because of this lie. I carried the guilt of watching you cry, thinking it was my fault. Months, Emily. I lived through those months breaking with you every night, and for what? For a piece of paper he manipulated.”
“Liam, please…”
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Chapter 177
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“Don’t Liam, please’ me “His hands fisted on his knees. “We may not have had the perfect relationship, but I would never have done something like this to him. And he’s family That makes it worse, not better
“That’s exactly why you need to calm down.” I said softly. “Because he is family. You can’t just…”
“There’s no calming down. The hospital has questions to answer, starting with that doctor. And Kelvin…” His jaw tightened. “I know exactly what to do with him.”
His tone left no room for argument. His mind was already made up.
“Fine.” I said carefully. “Then at least let me ask for one thing.”
He hesitated. “What?”
“Wait.” My voice wavered, but I forced it steady. “Hold whatever punishment you’ve planned until after the baby is born. I don’t want my child arriving in the middle of chaos. Promise me that much.”
He studied me for a long moment, then gave a short nod. “Alright. But only until then.
17
Relief left me shaky. I followed him back to bed. He drifted into sleep quickly, his breathing evening out. But I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, my mind restless.
Then my phone lit up on the nightstand.
Kelvin.
Emily, I know you told me not to reach out again, and I’ll respect that. This will be the last time you hear from me. I just can’t leave things unsaid.
I’m sorry. Truly, painfully sorry. Not a day goes by that I don’t regret what I did. I hurt you. I hurt Liam. And in the process, I destroyed the bond we once had. I see that now more clearly than ever, and the shame of it has never left me.
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