y returned to the R

Emily saw Carol peelin

xed on Sophia's slightly swollen belly. His fa

to be a harm

smile faded. "I thought you had left...

as she tried to stand

d. "Sit down, don't wor

ing figure dominating the

her and Natha

Nathan's visits home could be counted on

he bed, lit a cigar, his voice icy

s puzzle

o agree to a divorce?" Nathan sneered.

he had plunged in

ed you b

mily couldn't bring hersel

you because of your grandfather's dying wish.

er, forcing me to marry you! You have no feelings for me. Stop with the useless talk. How m

en me like this over the years? Am I just a

unusually cold. "Did you ma

was prepared to

forts and sacrifices o

smiling bitterly. "Nat

front of her. "Fill in whatever amount you want. Tomorrow morn

t her feet. Emily didn

door, not wanting to stay with her for another minute. "At least she won't schematically manipulate me. She's

ful slam, th

e had been pulled out, c

nough to end her marriage.

ike him, appeared

to shreds, and threw the

r, enveloped by darkness, fe

childbirth, and if it weren't for her father and

ther and Nathan's grandfath

oor swung ope

arrived. Perhaps Nathan wasn't so heartless after all; perhaps they could still try surro

y, it

d her last glimmer of h

walking into the room, holding her waist, her voice ind

e said this bedroom is mine from now on. Once y

ed up, shocked at t

ed to have changed entirely, as if she had transformed into

like you was never worthy of marrying Nathan. You two are incompa

f we divorce, it's none of y

Emily, do you know how am

else's marriage has no rig

on't even know how amazing Nathan is in bed. The first time, we did it six times.

marriage, Nathan had only touched her once,

ey never slept

arol knew

Since that's the case, isn't this the best outcome now? My child will call you Aunt in the future..."

a, shu

ed her han

sion. She grabbed Emily's hand and fell to the ground. "Emily! I

a

or was kicked

oorway, his eyes burn

spended in mid-air, laug

s what it w

sh to the extreme, fallin

rying, "My belly hurts... Help

maid's cries of alarm, Sophia's cr

d there, lik

abbing something nearby and hurling it at her. "W

ad, and a trickle of blood snaked down f

lding Sophia in his arms, painfully saying, "If

was, "Are you wo