Chapter 5
“What?!”
Colton whipped around toward the hospital bed—Natalie was still fast asleep, not the slightest sign of stirring.
He hissed under his breath, “It’s freezing outside, and you’ve barely got any money. Where the hell do you think you’re going—with a baby and no money, in this freezing weather?!”
“Do you have any idea how much Mom and Dad have worried about you? Do you even know how many gray hairs Mom has grown because of you over the years?”
Clarissa’s eyes glistened with tears, but she still shook her head with quiet resolve.
“As long as I stay here, Natalie will never be happy. You’ve already done more than enough for me. Being able to have your child… that’s more than I ever dreamed of. I can’t keep dragging everyone down.”
She bowed deeply, eyes red-rimmed and voice shaking.
Colton’s jaw clenched, his guilt and tenderness flickering across his face.
“Natalie will stay in the hospital for now. I’ll make sure she rests properly—she won’t be going back home anytime soon.”
“As for you, just stay here and take care of yourself. That’s not up for debate. You’re staying.”
Clarissa opened her mouth to protest, but Colton pressed a finger to her lips, his voice low and commanding.
“This is my child too. I won’t let him freeze out there on the streets without a roof over his head.”
Clarissa went still.
Slowly, she looked up, her eyes filled with cautious hope.
“Colton… I know your heart belongs to Natalie, but… I still want to ask. Is there even a sliver of feeling left for me?”
Colton swallowed hard.
A long silence followed before he finally said, “I do. I’ve never forgotten the years we grew up together.”
“You should head back. There are too many people around—”
Before he could finish, suddenly, Clarissa threw herself into his arms and kissed him.
When she finally pulled away, her cheeks were flushed. “Hearing you say that… I could die happy.”
“I know I’ve made things difficult, staying by your side when I shouldn’t have. I just… love you too much to walk away.”
“As long as I have a place in your heart, even the smallest corner… I’ll do anything.”
Colton’s expression softened. His voice roughened with emotion. “Silly girl… don’t say things like that.”
“You and our baby are going to be just fine.”
“I’ll make sure our son has everything he could ever need. He’ll never want for anything his entire life.”
He rested a hand on her waist.
“Mm…” Clarissa let out a soft moan, then hesitated. “But when Natalie gives birth… will you forget about Joey?”
“Of course not…” Colton buried his face in her neck, his kisses trailing across her skin. “There’ll never be another. Joey will be my only child.”
“Natalie… she won’t carry this one to term.”
Clarissa gasped under his touch, but her voice was shaky with doubt.
“But the doctor said her baby’s fine… they managed to stabilize everything.”
Colton’s breathing turned ragged.
“…For now. But once you and Joey are around, it’ll only be a matter of time. She’ll resent you.”
“She’ll never accept your child.”
“But when the time comes… if she can’t have children again… then she’ll have no choice but to treat Joey as her own.”
Hearing that, Clarissa clung to him even tighter.
Colton chuckled, breathless. “You little temptress.”
With Natalie fast asleep just a few feet away, the danger only made everything more intoxicating.
Their movements quickened, reckless and heated, Clarissa’s soft moans rising in volume.
Colton covered her mouth with his hand, whispering, “Keep it down. Not here. Let’s move.”
He slipped his arm around her waist and led her to the empty storage room next door.
Moments later, the sound of panting and breathless cries echoed faintly through the thin hospital walls.
Back in the room, Natalie lay with her eyes shut, lashes trembling faintly as a single tear slipped free.
So that’s what this was.
The warm words, the careful attention, even the doctor’s effort to save the baby—none of it had ever been for her.
It had all been for Clarissa.
It felt like her entire heart had crumbled to dust.
A child no one wanted… shouldn’t be born.
Natalie wiped her tears and made up her mind. She reached for the nurse call button.
“I’d like to reschedule the termination. As soon as possible.”
The nurse hesitated. “Are you sure, Mrs. Blackwood? This baby is developing well. After so many miscarriages, this might be your only chance. He could be the only child you and Commander Blackwood ever have.”
“I’m sure.”
Tears welled up again, but Natalie didn’t waver.
Soon, they wheeled her out of the room. Cold metal instruments pierced her body without mercy, tearing away the only thing that had ever been truly hers.
Her womb felt empty.
Her heart even more so.
She turned her head just slightly, watching as a bloodied lump was tossed into the trash like it was nothing.
That had been her baby.
She thought of the father.
Of the grandparents who never wanted him.
Forget it, she told herself.
And shut her eyes.
As her consciousness faded, only one thought remained:
Colton Blackwood… you and I are truly, finally, over.
