Chapter 228

Brian slammed his hand on the table. “I’m over fifty, so what if I have another child? By the time he grows up, Dan will already have made his mark.”
When Brian left the Chambers family, Mr. Hogan Chambers had only one condition: he was never to father an illegitimate child while he was away.
Hogan had learned that lesson the hard way, thanks to his own run-ins with secret children.
Brian had agreed, all for the sake of his freedom.
“Brian, you’re going back on your word,” Mrs. Chambers accused, her voice sharp.
Brian shot back without hesitation, his voice rising. “It’s all because of you-you spiteful woman! You ruined my child’s life, and you’ll pay for it.”
“Enough.” Daniel’s voice cut through the chaos, cold and detached as he watched his parents.
He felt nothing for Brian, so there was no point pretending. “Will’s already negotiated a settlement with your mistress.”
Brian froze, the wind taken out of his sails.
Daniel turned to Mrs. Chambers, exasperation written on his face. “That’s enough. Let’s go home.”
He understood why Mrs. Chambers had become this way-years of misery in a loveless marriage had hardened her.
Daniel was willing to clean up the mess, because he understood.
But Mrs. Chambers wouldn’t have it. “A settlement? How dare you pay her off? She seduced my husband—good riddance if she’s gone.”
Daniel ignored her outburst, picked up a pen, and signed the papers. Then he walked over to Nora, his voice as icy as ever. “Let’s go.”
Nora followed him in silence.
Back in the car, Daniel suddenly reached out, gripping her chin so tightly it hurt. His handsome face was inches from hers, anger radiating off him in waves.
“Nora, this is how you thank me, huh?” Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on
He’d known something was off for a while, but he’d let himself hope she wouldn’t go through with it.
He’d hoped she wouldn’t be so heartless.
But in the end, she was.
Nora’s face went pale as pain shot through her jaw. Tears welled in her eyes as she clung to his wrist, struggling to explain.
“I just went for a check-up,” she whispered. “You can see for yourself I never scheduled the procedure.”
“But you never wanted the baby from the start.” Daniel’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.
He’d fought to save Payne, and now she was going to take away their child.
Nora stopped struggling. She met his anger head-on, her gaze steady and unafraid. In her eyes, the storm gradually faded to a cold calm.
There was nothing left but bitter irony.
“Have the baby? So you can keep using him to control me?”
Daniel flinched at the distrust in her eyes.
He let go, his hand dropping limply.
“That’s our child. Why would I—”
“Why wouldn’t you?” Nora cut him off with a mirthless laugh. “Your grandmother. Payne. Haven’t you used them all against me?”
“Daniel, the moment you gave The Almanac of Air to Eleanor, we were finished.”
That was the truth she’d been hiding in her heart.
She wanted to draw a line between them.
She wanted out.
Daniel pressed a hand to his brow, hiding the pain etched on his face.
The air in the car was thick with suffocating tension.
Finally, he let his hand fall, his eyes cold and empty.
“You know me, Nora. I never let people off easy.”
Nora pressed her lips together. Even now, he couldn’t let go.
“You”
Daniel cut her off, ordering the driver to start the car.
He absently twisted the wedding ring on his left hand. Even after the divorce, he still wore it.
Nora’s ring, though, had disappeared long ago.
“I told you once-life for a life.” His voice was flat, stripped of warmth. “If you have this baby, I’ll set you free.”
“Otherwise, do you really think Mrs. Winters can protect Payne forever?”
“Daniel.” Nora’s chest heaved with emotion.
She clenched her fists, her eyes shining with fury.
“He’s just a child.”
Daniel’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile. “So is the one you’re carrying.”
“If you can’t care for my child, what makes you think I should care for Payne?”