Chapter 12
Suddenly, a loud commotion broke the stillness of the hospital ward. Becket rushed to the souce of commotion. The moment he entered, he saw Delaney standing by the window with her face streaked with tears.
But what made his heart drop was what she did next–she climbed onto the windowsill.}
“What are you doing?!” Beckett shouted, his voice sharp with panic.
He was already beginning to suspect Delaney–too many things weren’t adding up–but regardless of his doubts, the investigation hadn’t concluded. And for now, Delaney was still the woman who had saved his life. No matter what, he couldn’t just stand there and let her jump.
And then there was the baby.}
Beckett clenched his fists at the thought. There was a child involved now–his child. The thought alone made his chest tighten with dread. He wanted to rush forward, to pull her down and away from danger.
Delaney sa
voice
the panic in his eyes and a flicker of satisfaction passed through hers. Her sobbing slowed and she turned to face him, her trembling with emotion.
“Beckett, I can’t bear for you to think that I’m just a greedy homewrecker,” she cried. “But the thought of my child being born a bastard, growing up without a name… I just can’t accept it.”
“I know I’m the one who ruined your marriage with Evelyn. I know I’m the bad guy in this story. So let me take the blame. Let me leave with my baby and you can go back to Evelyn. You don’t owe me anything.“>
Then, without warning, she started to lean forward.
Beckett’s heart nearly stopped.
“No!” he shouted, stepping toward her, arms outstretched. “Delaney, calm down. Don’t do this!“}
His voice softened, trying to reach her through the hysteria. “I won’t let the baby be born without a name. I swear. Just come down from there. We’ll figure something out.”
Delaney’s gaze flickered with something unreadable, but she didn’t move.
“I’ll make sure the child is legally recognized,” he continued desperately. “If you come down, I’ll have the baby registered under Evelyn’s name. He’ll be a Shaw, Delaney. No one will dare say anything. Just please–get down.”
He thought that would be enough. A compromise to calm her down, to make her feel secure.
But Delaney wasn’t looking for compromise.}
She hadn’t caused this scene just to hand her child over to someone else. She wanted more.
And now that she had Beckett exactly where she wanted him, she wasn’t about to stop.
A dark flash passed through her eyes and she let out a fresh wail of despair, loud enough to draw attention from the hallway.“]
“But you and Evelyn are already divorced, aren’t you?” she sobbed. “What am I supposed to do? The baby’s coming in just a few months- do you want him born with no identity. An illegal migrant’s spawn?“>
She turried her tear–streaked face toward him, her voice breaking. “I don’t regret saving you from that fire, Beckett, but I can’t let our child live in shame!”
Then, she made another move toward the ledge.}
Beckett’s blood ran cold. He lurched forward, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Delaney, no! I’ll do it, okay? I promise.”
She froze, her body trembling, but her feet stayed planted on the windowsill.
She looked at him, eyes wide, waiting.
Beckett swallowed hard, his jaw tight as he forced the words past his clenched teeth.
“I’ll marry you.“I
