Chapter 19

Birth control pills! Right then, it hit Alice like a ton of bricks. That night had been such a mess, and in the rush to cover her tracks at the hotel afterward, she’d completely forgotten about taking any form of protection. She quickly lowered her head, trying to hide the flash of panic in her eyes. Suddenly, a hand gripped her chin and forced her face up. Edward leaned in, his stare sharp enough to cut, locking on her with no room to escape. “You didn’t take it.” His tone was flat, but it landed like a punch. Alice’s throat tightened. Beneath the blanket, her fingers curled into the sheets. She forced herself to stay calm, her eyes steady like deep water. “I did.” She had to lie—because if she told the truth, with the way he was, she’d lose her job on the spot. But just as the words left her mouth, she couldn’t stop herself from gagging again—twice. Edward’s gaze turned even colder. His fingers dug harder into her jaw. “Do you know what happens if you lie to me?” He’d trusted her not