Chapter 6

The word "bastard" pierced Ava's chest like a poisoned needle. She looked down at the report, at the stark "pregnancy positive", then caught the flicker of triumph tugging at Lia's lip. Everything became clear in an instant. She forced down her rising fury and spoke evenly. "This hospital is unreliable. I'm not pregnant." Rowan's face, half-hidden in shadow, seemed carved from cold iron. He drew in a long breath and reached for her. "Come with me. We'll take care of it. I can treat this as if nothing ever happened." The sight of him—this man who had once promised before every major news outlet in Harborcrest that he would trust her and protect her for life—made something bitter twist in her chest. Ava slapped his hand away, frost settling over her eyes. "I said I'm not pregnant. What exactly would I be getting rid of?" Lia tugged gently at his sleeve. "Rowan, give Ava some time. A mother can't give up her child so quickly…" The words were oil on open flame. "Ava, you really can't part with that bastard?" Rowan yanked her upright, gripping her chin and forcing her to face him. Jealousy and hatred clawed at him until he felt like he might split apart. The image of Ava beneath another man made him choke on something close to hysteria. He would never allow that child to exist. Lia watched his unhinged expression, an involuntary spark of envy flashing through her eyes. She had been at his side for years, yet she had never seen him lose his composure like this. "Ava!" Rowan's voice cracked under the force of his rage. "Why can't you be sensible like Lia? When she carried my child, she ended the pregnancy herself so I wouldn't be put in a difficult position. She's sacrificed so much for me without a word of complaint. And you? You can't even give up a bastard?" The moment the words left his mouth, the air in the room turned to stone. It was only then that Rowan realized what he had revealed. He turned his head sharply, shame and panic warping his expression. Ava's gaze drifted between the two of them. A thick, nauseating disgust surged from her gut to her throat. She ripped her face from his grasp and bent over the bed, retching violently, as if she could vomit out her shattered heart. She had already decided to leave him behind, yet hearing the betrayal spoken aloud flayed her raw, as if strips of rotting flesh were being carved from her bones. Rowan moved instinctively to explain, but when he met her eyes, filled with nothing but loathing, his voice twisted hard. He said, "Ava, what right do you have to act like this? I ended up with Lia because of you! When you disappeared, I searched for you until I nearly lost my mind. I drowned myself in alcohol every night. "Lia was the one who supported me, who encouraged me, who held me together. I only mistook her for you because I was drunk. And you? While I was falling apart, you were off enjoying yourself. You even came back pregnant with another man's bastard!" As he watched her retch helplessly, the last sliver of guilt inside him was devoured by anger. He shouted at the door, "Someone come! Take her to the OR! Get rid of that bastard now!" As the bodyguards moved in, Ava grabbed the fruit knife from the table, seized Lia by the arm, and pressed the blade cleanly to her throat. "Go buy a pregnancy test," Ava said, voice cold enough to freeze blood. She pressed just hard enough for a bead of red to bloom. "Now. Immediately." Lia cried out in pain. Rowan swallowed his fury and gestured sharply for the guards to obey. During the brief gap, Ava typed on her phone with one hand. "Confirm Martha and Caleb's safety. Now." She would never again allow Rowan to use them as leverage. The test arrived quickly. Ava dragged Lia into the bathroom, shut the door, and locked it. In the cramped space, Lia trembled. "Ava, why go this far…" "Shut the fuck up." Ava slammed her against the wall and tore open the pregnancy test package. Her phone lit up. A single photo appeared. It was Martha Lane and her son, Caleb Morris standing on a cruise-ship deck, the ocean bright behind them. Ava's taut nerves finally loosened for a brief moment. She inhaled sharply, picked up the test, and moved toward the toilet. Outside, Rowan barked, impatience dripping from every word. "Ava, how long are you going to drag this out?" Ava's fingers tightened around the plastic stick until it creaked. She wanted nothing more than to throw it into the toilet, to flush the entire nightmare away. However, the bruises, burns, and injuries covering her body reminded her of one truth—she wasn't sure she could walk away alive if she pushed any further today. She drew a long, steady breath, lowered herself slowly into a crouch, and began.