the sterile white of her bathroom. A wave of nausea, completely unrelated to morning sickness, w

wasn't

man whose wealth was matched only by his emotional distance. For five years, she had endured his family's pointed questions and her mother-in-la

le clinic, a secret she planned to carry alone. The irony was bitter. No

ounter, shattering the si

mother-in-law called me again, you know how she is, but this t

Her mother' s cheerful hope

want to jinx it! Just know I'

e, this was just the final nail in the coffin. She started making a mental list. New York. She had a colleague there who had offered her a position a year ago. She could restart her car

o settle in her heart, her phone

he temple today. It's the first of the month." His voi

r years, a ritual to pray for a male heir. It had always been a s

iam. I'm getti

to be late." He hung u

, heavy and sweet, and churned Chloe's already sensitive stomach. She felt a fami

it, shot her an irritated look. "What's wrong with y

ad grown so used to them, so accustome

atic, a reflex honed by years of placating h

xed on the altar, his posture rigid and rem

r her. The hurt was still there, but it was muted, covered b

quiet but firm. "This is the

d in annoyance. "What are you talk

she corrected him gently. "I w

ting her defiance. "Are you still trying to pressure me into having a c

ow simply confirmed her decision. He didn't want

screen, and his entire demeanor changed. The cold mask of in

a moment, his voice softening. "Okay, st

is face once again a blank slate.

ool sweetheart, his one great love, the woman he never quite got over. Isabella w

y, pulling his keys from his

dn't want a child, but he was rushing to the side of another pregnant woman. He would proba

too. A perfect, ready-made family. The thought was so absurd it was almost funny.