Her petite form nestled against his chest, filling the void that had haunted him for the past week. The room stayed dark, and he didn''t bother turning on the light. Everett softly kissed the back of her neck, maybe because the darkness made it easier to share secrets, or maybe he just wanted to have a real conversation with her. "Why didn''t you tell me about Mateo''s issues?" His deep, raspy voice suddenly cut through the silence, jolting Selena despite her determination to stay quiet. After a long pause, she replied with a touch of sarcasm, "Isn''t that exactly what you wanted?"


    Everett''s instincts picked up on something important, his eyebrows knitting together.


    "What do you mean?"


    Her voice remained steady, emotionless, "Does it matter now? Mateo''s gone!"


    She stressed thosest words, determined to drive home the point that Mateo was no longer in the picture, hoping to squash any lingering doubts Everett might have. Mateo was her rock, and she''d do anything to keep him hidden, away from anyone else''s grasp.


    "It does matter!"


    In one swift motion, Everett flicked on the bedsidemp and turned her to face him, his dark eyes boring into hers as if trying to see into her very soul. "Exin yourself!"


    Staring at his innocent yet demanding expression, Selena struggled to keep her emotions in check. Remembering the baseless suffering she and Mateo endured, she thought if it weren''t for some stroke of luck, they both might have been gone by now.


    "That pill, you knew it could help prevent a miscarriage at first, butter on, it bes lethal for the baby. Yet, you made me take it as if it was some miracle cure!"


    "That''s nonsense! I didn''t know that pill could harm the baby or you. If I promised to keep Mateo safe, why would I hurt him? Why would I do that?"


    His anger red, mixed with


    frustration, "Selena, do you think i''m behind every bad thing that happens, and only your Dr. Campbell is the good guy? You didn''t even ask me, how''s that fair?"  en


    Ask?


    The word made Selena want tough, and she did, out loud. "I didn''t want to believe it was you either. I was desperate to know you wouldn''t do such a thing, that you wouldn''t be so cruel to our child and me. But the


    truth is, you didn''t even ga


    chance to ask. Back then, all you cared about was Margot!"


    "Then it hit me, whether it was you or not doesn''t matter anymore. The hurt you''ve caused me, one more or one less incident doesn''t change anything!"


    A flicker of hope in Everett''s eyes


    quickly shattered with her words. He


    1.n


    sensed herplete hopelessness, unlike before when a simple exnation from him would have


    been enough for her forgiveness.


    Now, it wasn''t about forgiveness; she clearly wanted nothing to do with him anymore!


    He opened his mouth to speak but was at a loss for words.


    Selena also fell silent, her gaze steady on him. She thought if he had any heart left, he''d know it was time to let go.


    But after a few moments, his eyes drifted to her belly, a renewed determination sparking in his eyes as he ced his hand there.


    "Selena, we still have Haley. Hering into our lives now means we can''t just part ways."


    His words, whispered into her ear, sent shivers down her spine, his voice a tempting siren''s call.


    "Just rest for now. When you wake up, we won''t go back home. Instead, we''ll take a private jet to some secluded ind tomorrow. I''ve already picked one out for you; you''ll love it." So...


    Was he still dead set on keeping her captive?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.