Chapter 4

Chelsea's voice came through lazy and satisfied.

"Thanks for remembering I love pink diamonds. Oh, and I prefer strawberry flavored. Don't mix it up next time."

The pink diamond bracelet. The one he'd bid an outrageous price for at an auction last year. He'd said he bought it for me.

It had been for her all along.

He extended his hand toward me.

"That bracelet was low quality anyway. I'll have my assistant find a better one tomorrow. Consider it an apology."

I stood up.

"Julian. I want a divorce."

The moment the words left my mouth, his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.

He didn't squeeze hard, but the warmth in his eyes was completely gone.

"Stop making a scene. I don't like you like this."

"Where exactly do you think you'd go without me? Back to that mob boss?"

"Let go of me. Where I go is none of your business." I stared coldly at his hand wrapped around my wrist.

Julian's expression darkened. Slowly, he loosened his grip.

He exhaled, and his face shifted into something patient and tired, like he was indulging a child throwing a tantrum.

"Nora, you're being emotional. I promise I'll see her less from now on."

Then the private cell phone in his pocket rang. The special number. The one he'd set up just for me, so I could always reach him in an emergency.

Julian's brow creased slightly. He answered.

Chelsea's voice, on the verge of tears.

"Julian, I'm scared."

Julian's whole body tensed.

"What? You cut yourself?"

He turned around without a second's hesitation.

"I have to go. Get some rest."

"Julian." A sharp pain hit me low in my stomach.

I pressed my hand over it on instinct and reached out to grab the edge of his sleeve.

He looked back at me with barely concealed impatience.

"Nora, don't play games right now. This isn't the time for jealousy."

"She's in a dangerous state. I have to go."

One by one, he pried my fingers off his sleeve.

He didn't look back at me again. He was out the door in three strides.

I sank down onto the floor, cold sweat soaking through my shirt.

I got myself to the hospital alone.

I lay in a narrow bed under the fluorescent lights.

I held the thin slip of paper from the test and ran my fingers over my still-flat stomach.

Baby, I'm sorry. Your timing couldn't be worse.

I curled my hand into a fist.

But you're here. And I'm going to take you with me. I'm going to raise you.

I called my lawyer.

After sending over the evidence, I got up to leave.

That's when I saw them. Julian was carefully guiding Chelsea out of the private ultrasound suite, one hand steadying her elbow.

Chelsea had a cartoon bandage on her finger.

Julian was leaning close, saying something soft to her. His face was gentle in a way I recognized.

Chelsea looked up and her eyes found mine.

She stopped walking. She reached over and tugged on Julian's sleeve.

Julian followed her gaze. Something shifted in his expression.

Chelsea pulled free of his hand and walked straight toward me.

She studied my face.

"Strange, isn't it. Even I almost forgot what I used to look like. And here you are."

That light, breezy sentence hit me like a slap across the face.

She raised her hand and reached toward my cheek.

I turned my head away. "Don't touch me. I'm not you."

When I pulled back, she swung her palm across my face.

The sting blazed across my cheek. I raised my hand and hit her back.

Julian crossed the space between us in seconds and stepped in front of Chelsea.

"Nora, she's unwell. Let it go."

I turned and hit him across the face instead.

He didn't react with anger. His eyes dropped to the test results still in my hand.

He reached over and took the paper. He scanned it.