door, her steps heavy as if every ounce

eyes roaming the dark, empty house. The corners of her li

feless, just like Julian's heart. She had spent years guarding a place that was ac

lebrating her pregnancy. Most likely, he was still with her now, wrapped in tender

y cooked a full dinner, set the table, and left

urn on the lights as she walked barefoot into the

ected hand shot out of the shadows,

d on, bathing Julian's face in soft, golden light. His f

to her lips, he wh

how many times she told herself to stop caring, her he

eaving behind the same indifference as his voice turned cold, almost reproachful. "Wh

ion was almost laughable. Shouldn't it be her

ds never left her mouth. Instead, she curved her l

mean? He was about to press furt

ion vanish. His words came out gentler, uncertain.

lizing that the concern she once craved f

to play the forgiving wife. Her voice was faint,

take more than two steps, Julian's arm wrapped ar

ands flew to shield her stomach. Anger flared hot in he

r, his brow furrowing. "Yo

aught. He kn

he had discovered her pregnancy, then would

lips, but the sudden shrill ring of

came through the receiver, trembling with pain. "Jules, I slipped in the

urgency sharpening his tone. "Do

he shoved Yvonne aside, striding toward

g cutting deep. One plea from Rita, and he c

For once, she wanted to force the truth out of him, to know where h

er lips parted, but before she could beg him to stay, his voice

as she cried out, "Where are you going? Who was tha

t in her throat. In that instant, it stru

n something that was never real. She had let herself dream of a marriage that only e

a transaction, nothing more tha

His eyes, sharp and merciless, pinned her down like a blade. "Yvonne, stop deceiving you

ainfully at his bluntness. She loosened her hold, a broken sob slipp

, cutting look. Without another word, he turned and w

rything-whatever fragile tie had ex

eave her thoughts, replaying like a

d the bathroom, hand pressed over her mouth

en almost nothing all day, yet her body c

her palm against her flat belly, a broken laugh escaping through the pain. "Little one, you c