Chapter 841

Angry shouts could faintly be heard from outside the car window. "Damn it! He hit the barrier! Stop the car!" "That guy is driving so fast! Is he guy trying to kill himself?" "What kind of lunatic is behind the wheel?" Andrew kept his foot firmly on the gas pedal, making the car tear through the night. The curses and shouts from outside mixed with the howling wind, but none of it reached him. It was as if he were trapped in a nightmare; his mind spiraled into darkness. In the distorted haze of his vision, all he could see were flashes of blood and shadows. There was a time when Andrew had lived recklessly, defying danger and chasing extremes without a second thought. He hadn't cared about the risks or the consequences because he had loathed the world too much to find anything worth holding on to. Life had been unbearably dull, a meaningless existence. Death had seemed like it might be a welcome release. That version of Andrew—the one who held no reverence for life—was the "demon" people whispered about in fear. Now, he was slipping back into that old mindset, consumed by restless bitterness. Why hadn't he seen Melina yet? Why wasn't she here? Then, in the chaos, a familiar voice echoed in his mind. "Andrew, I've told you a hundred times—don't drive so fast. It's dangerous!" He knew she wasn't there. The car was empty—it was just him and his spiraling thoughts. But Melina's voice cut through the noise. Andrew's distorted vision began to clear. The tangled lines of his thoughts straightened, helping his regain clarity. For a moment, he could almost see Melina sitting beside him in the passenger seat, and her cheeks puffed out in frustration as she glared at him. Andrew inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly as he eased his foot off the gas. She was waiting for him at home. He'd see her the moment he got back. Andrew pulled into Oakread, his anger still simmering but under control. In the courtyard, Melina was sitting on the ground, playing with Wheat. The cat had once been badly injured, and his hind were legs broken and useless. He had spent a long time dragging himself around before Melina had found him. Since then, she'd nursed him back to health, tending to his wounds and helping his bones heal. Yet, despite being physically capable of walking again, Wheat still refused to use his back legs, relying instead on his front limbs to drag himself along the ground. The vet had warned her that if Wheat didn't start using his back legs, those muscles would atrophy completely, and he would never walk again. Determined to help, Melina had been working to train Wheat, trying to coax him into standing on all fours. Andrew stepped into the yard, his presence heavy with tension. Wheat hissed, his fur standing on end as he scrambled away. Melina looked up, startled. "Andrew, what's wrong?" Andrew didn't answer. He strode toward her, pulling her into his arms and holding her tightly. His grip was so strong that Melina felt her stomach being pressed. She was about to push him away when his hoarse voice stopped her. "Don't leave me, Angel. Never leave me." She froze, caught off guard by the raw vulnerability in his tone. Though she didn't know what had happened, she nodded, answering softly, "I won't leave you." Her words soothed something deep within him. The anger and despair that had been gnawing at him ebbed away, replaced by a calm he hadn't felt in ages. It was as if she had pulled him back from the edge of the abyss. When he finally let go, Melina gently pushed at him. "Andrew, you're holding me too tightly. You're pressing on my stomach." Andrew's gaze shifted to her belly, and for a fleeting moment, an unexpected flicker of jealousy crossed his face. He had fought through so much pain to find Melina and earn her love. This baby hadn't even been born and yet had already seemed to have won her affection so effortlessly. Jealousy twisted into something darker—a brief flash of resentment. Melina noticed his expression change and instinctively placed a protective hand over her stomach. Andrew tore his gaze away, taking a step back. He had already decided to let the baby stay. The pregnancy was too far along now, and there was no turning back. Still, in his heart, he knew he didn't want to share Melina's attention with anyone—not even his own child. He consoled himself with a plan. Once the baby was born, he'd arrange for a nanny to care for them. The child could be sent to a boarding school far away in a few years. Later, perhaps he could even send them overseas. Out of sight, out of mind.