Chapter 2

Nathan's car finally stopped outside an apartment building.

It was exactly the property my parents had given Hildegarde all those years ago.

So it had all gone to the baby in Nathan's arms now, and he hadn't set aside a single thing of his own for Hildegarde.

For that matter, this apartment was the one I'd once turned down, back when I thought the location was too far out of the way.

I watched Nathan go up, and then I followed.

Nathan's voice came from inside first, worried, thick with alarm: “Hilda, don't be scared. Did that fall hurt just now? Are you feeling anything wrong anywhere? Should we go to the hospital right away and get you checked?”

“I rushed straight over the second I got your call.”

Hildegarde's voice, soft and delicate, with an uneasy edge. “I'm okay, I just got such a fright just now, honey.”

“I live here all alone. If I fall again and you're not around, what am I supposed to do?”

Her tone grew more pressing. “Honey, my belly's getting bigger and bigger. I can't drag this out any longer.”

“When exactly are you going to make the baby in her belly disappear for good?”

“If we keep dragging like this, our baby's going to be born first, and by then it'll be too late for everything!”

Nathan soothed her in a low voice, his tone ruthless. “Soon. Don't panic, and don't rush.”

“I've already told her the fetus is developing abnormally, that there's something seriously wrong. She half believes it now.”

“In another two days I'll take her to the hospital for an induced delivery and put an end to this once and for all.”

Hildegarde still sounded anxious, murmuring her worry: “That's good, then.”

“But our fake marriage license is still a risk. If the authorities check it and it turns up, our child won't even be able to get on the household records later. What do we do then?”

From inside came the soft sound of kissing, along with Nathan's gentle promise: “Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I'll take care of everything. I'll never let you or the baby suffer the slightest bit……”

Then came the rustle of clothing.

I stood outside the door and listened to all of it in silence, and all that was left inside me was despair.

I didn't push the door open and burst in. I turned and walked down the stairs, one step at a time.

Back in the car, I dialed the brother I hadn't contacted in a long time.

The call connected at once, and his steady, gentle, concerned voice came through the receiver: “Silvie, why are you calling so late? Did something upset you? Has someone been treating you badly?”

His words broke through the tears I'd been holding back all at once.

I forced down the sob in my throat. “Aiden, I want to come home.”

On the other end he went still for a moment, then brightened, his voice light and doting: “Good! It's about time you came home!”

“Your birthday's just a few days away. I'll throw you a grand birthday party myself and bring in every big name and power player in the business world.”

“I'm going to let everyone know that the one true heiress of the Simmons family, the one we've always cherished above all, has finally come home.”