Chapter 5

It wasn't until my follow-up appointment that I discovered, completely by accident, that I was pregnant.

When the faint, steady beat of my baby's heart filled the ultrasound room, tears I thought I'd exhausted long ago spilled down my cheeks.

I had no one left.

No family.

No home that truly belonged to me.

No one who still loved me.

But this baby made me greedy.

For the first time in a long time, I wanted something badly enough to be afraid of losing it.

I wanted to keep my child.

So I told no one.

Especially not Sebastian.

I was terrified that if he found out, he would force me to end the pregnancy.

But before I could decide what to do next, everything fell apart.

During my second prenatal appointment, a fire broke out in the hospital.

Alarms screamed through the building.

Smoke poured into the corridors as patients and staff rushed toward the emergency exits.

I was caught in the crowd when I saw Sebastian.

He was coming out of another OB-GYN room with Narelle in his arms.

Our eyes met.

For one brief second, he saw me.

Then someone slammed into my back.

I lost my balance and crashed to the floor.

Before I could get up, the panicked crowd surged over me.

A shoe struck my shoulder.

Another foot came down against my side.

Then another.

Pain tore through my abdomen.

I curled around my stomach and screamed for help.

Blood spread beneath me.

Bright red.

Too much.

I looked desperately toward Sebastian.

His gaze stopped on me for barely a second.

Then his arms tightened around Narelle.

He turned away.

And he carried her out without looking back.

I lay on the floor, staring after him.

Something inside me went completely still.

So this was what we'd become.

The memory faded.

I opened my eyes and realized my hospital pillow was already soaked with tears.

My hand slowly moved to my stomach.

There was nothing there anymore.

Only a dull ache that sometimes felt so real I could almost convince myself my baby was still with me.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, baby.

Mommy couldn't protect you.

And your father...

He really doesn't love me anymore.

Maybe he hasn't for a long time.

I should have let him go sooner.

A knock came at the door.

A courier stepped inside carrying a sealed envelope.

"Joy Harding?"

I nodded.

He handed it to me.

The letterhead belonged to the Federal Heritage Administration.

My fingers trembled as I opened it.

It was an official appointment letter.

Months ago, I'd returned several manuscripts I'd restored to the museum. Dr. Margaret Winslow, the curator overseeing the collection, had been stunned by the quality of my work and recommended me for an international restoration program funded by the Administration.

Now they were formally offering me a position.

The assignment would take me overseas for several years.

Housing, security, and relocation would all be arranged.

More importantly, the legal team assigned to the program had already agreed to help me sever my remaining ties to the Gilbert Family and complete my divorce once I accepted the appointment.

I stared at the letter for a long time.

Then I signed my name.

After finishing my discharge paperwork, I left the hospital with almost nothing.

The moment I stepped through the main entrance, I saw a familiar black Maybach waiting at the curb.

Sebastian stood beside it.

One hand rested against the roof as he carefully helped Narelle into the back seat.

He looked up.

Our eyes met.

There had been a time when one glance from that man could make my entire world feel safe.

Now Sebastian merely looked me over.

A faint, dismissive smirk touched his lips.

Then he climbed into the car.

The door closed.

The Maybach pulled away.

I watched it disappear into traffic without calling his name.

Without crying.

Without taking a single step after him.

A few moments later, another black sedan stopped in front of me.

The Administration had sent a car.

The driver stepped out and opened the rear door.

"Ms. Harding?"

"Yes."

I climbed inside.

The door shut behind me.

The car pulled away from the hospital, made a U-turn, and headed straight for the airport.

This time, I didn't look back.