Chapter 17
Delaney’s heart jumped into her throat. She quickly scrambled to gather the papers from the floor. When she found the cancer report, her eyes lit up. She had suspected and now she knew for certain.
She was nothing like Beckett–clueless to it all. She noticed it.”
The signs were obvious and unlike him, she actually paid attention. From the day we ran into each other at the hospital, she’d been watching me closely. I must’ve looked pale–drained, weak, sick. She sensed it. She wanted it to be true. And then at the Shaw estate, she started provoking me. Subtle at first, then sharper. I remember how she pushed every of my button. Every time she spoke, it was like venom sliding under my skin. And every time, I felt myself unraveling.
I remember the way her eyes lingered on my face. She saw the color drain from it. Saw the pain I tried to hide. I looked like death and she loved it.
She probably knew convincing Beckett to divorce me would take time. But Delaney doesn’t do patience. She wanted everything–before her baby was born. She wanted to crown her child the heir of the Shaw Family.”
And she wanted to do it as Mrs. Shaw.
That whole act she put on–sweet, helpless, innocent–it was just that. An act.”
What she really wanted was power. Money. Status. Control over the company, the legacy… the man. And she’d do anything to get it. She didn’t have much to work with and I think she knew that. Her biggest advantage was a lie–one she sold beautifully.
Then came her chance.§
Whatever she did, whatever story she spun, it worked.§
Beckett believed her. Just like that. He didn’t even hesitate. He shoved me to the floor–eight months pregnant–and walked away like I was nothing.
But Delaney saw it all.
She saw the blood. She heard me cry out his name. And when it looked like he might turn around, she clung to him. Keeping him from seeing the truth.
It worked.
He took her to the hospital. Left me behind.§
She didn’t want me injured. She wanted me gone. For good. She must’ve assumed I’d be admitted to the same hospital–and she was right.
I had fallen hard and the baby was in danger. If she could keep the doctors busy, if the nurses couldn’t get to me in time…
I could bleed out to death. §
No violence. No mess. Just one less obstacle in her way.)
She probably couldn’t believe her luck.
When Beckett stepped out of the room for a moment, she slipped away. Just to confirm it.”
She found me.
Lying there, in pain. Screaming. Clutching my belly like that could somehow hold everything together.”
The nurses were frantic, trying to call for help. Trying to call him.
But Delaney had his phone. She’d gotten it from him earlier–probably with some sweet excuse. And when she saw the calls coming in, she blocked the number. Then she laughed. Hand over her mouth, giddy with joy.
