Rhode

s a stark contrast to the burning agony in my lower body. Nurses moved in and out of my periphery,

e the charismatic politician and more like a terrified child. His eyes met mine, and I saw a st

y. The memory of his threats, his cold dismissal, his public humiliation of me, flooded b

is voice hoarse. "I... I'

at I was a human being, not just a pawn in his political game? The

I managed to croa

use. The doctors are saying it's... it's just stress. And exhaustion." He

s more than stress. I remembered the gush, the se

r?" I asked, my v

ey, you're in no condition to be di

hing myself up slightly.

ne. He's at the hospital too, just in a different

portant, Brody. He's my fr

But we need to think about this rationally. Your family is here

ugh escaping my lips. "Brody, your actio

that. Not here. Not now. Your parents are j

es, to uphold the family name. The thought of adding more scandal to their plate, especially right before a major election involvin

Brody?" I asked, my voice barely above a

y. I know things have been difficult. But we can fix this. We can get through

ne concern, no regret. Only calculation. Only fear for his own crumbling image. He

id, a profound weariness settling over

course it's about us, Finley. It's always been about us. Don't

, the foundation of his ambition. He invoked it now as if it were a shared d

words cutting through the air. "All of it. Every si

've been over this. We collabo

And you know it. Just like you know about G

eone might overhear. "Finley, please. We can talk about this lat

nerves. "Emotional."

ng inside me. "We're talking about it now. I

nd again, but this time, I didn't recoil. I let him tou

e... we have so much to lose. Our families. Our reputation. My campaign." H

e baby. My baby. My hand flew to my abdo

whispered, my v

rile white wall. "The doctors told me. Yo

o. Not pain, but shock. Disbelief. A tiny, fragile hope, immediately cru

rs pricking my eyes. "No, that's i

mphant look on his face. "See? This is fate, Finley. This i

ssive, manipulative light. "You can't leave me now, Finley. Not

't happy about the baby. He was happy about the leverage. About the new w

ey," he said, his voice laced wi