eveni

Crown mansion was

n-B

d mahogany table, the sharp sound cutti

ite, ricocheting off the high ceilings. "He actually think

. "Who the hell does he think he is? Just because Forbes slapped his name on one of the

simply leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the cushion

she wasn't pacing-she was calculating. And

w breath and pinched the bridg

was a warning beneath it. "I understand how you f

ou shout, it won't change what's already happened." H

ed, her gaze locked onto Eric. "Your father is righ

ew her temper. If anything, he had expected her to join Eric's

uld handle this rationally, dar

f mid-sentence. Her composed facade shatter

-in-law is pregnant with her ex-boyfriend's child, and that bastard actually

ike this. He had always been the kind of man who let he

ing with something beyond anger. Disdain.

is pregnancy before things

eart. "Mother... What do you mean

ked onto Adina, unyielding. "What so

e not just any man's child, but your ex-boyfriend's? Th

he didn't need Mabel to say it outri

ative?" Her voice was barely a

aw's face, hoping desperately that she

u know there isn't, Adina. We all know what needs to b

e it

ack of

r

this mean

ack into a million piec

she had

x long

sts. Hope.

d

sted the IVF, encouraging and at the same time insisting-now

it?" she stammered, clinging to one last shred of hope.

uth to respond, but

o dismissive. "No court in this country would force a woman to give

ed her gaze

he words echoed relentlessly in her mind, e

her, crouching at her side. He took her ha

ice smooth, reassuring. "But if this was successful, it can

sharply, her e

efore she finally whispered. "Fine... I