- 5.
A week later, I was discharged with Declan Carter by my side. Despite his fierce and unpredictable appearance, he was surprisingly gentle with me, and I was deeply grateful.
It’s hard to believe someone would save me from disaster twice…
Just as we stepped out of the hospital, Declan was pulled aside by an important phone call.
While waiting, I unexpectedly saw Gideon and Phoebe coming out of the maternity ward.
In the past, I had often seen them together, always hand in hand or with arms around each other, looking like a truly loving couple.
It always pierced my heart deeply.
But today, I felt nothing. Maybe because Phoebe was expecting their fourth child.
Gideon really loved her, didn’t he? One love child after another…
Whatever.
What does it have to do with me?
Just as I was about to turn away, Phoebe spotted me.
“Sister!”
Phoebe suddenly raised her voice and walked over, pretending to be close.
“What brings you here? Are you pregnant too? But didn’t you and Gideon already divorce? You wouldn’t be so cruel as to make the baby a single parent, would you?”
She seemed unaware that I had Gideon’s child and had aborted it, gloating over having driven me away.
I didn’t want to engage with her, but Gideon’s expression turned sour as he heard her, frowning.
He looked at my flat belly with a complex gaze.
“Nora, if you’re having regrets, I can-”
D
r
“Nora, if you’re having regrets, I can-”
H
I interrupted softly, “Is it the fourth one? Congratulations.”
h
Phoebe stepped forward, standing between Gideon and me, suddenly clutching my hand tightly.
“Yes, the doctor said it’s twins, a boy and a girl. Gideon’s over the moon…“.
Her eyes gleamed maliciously, just like the day she poured hot water on the child.
I panicked and tried to pull my hand back.
“Ah-!”
а
Phoebe suddenly screamed, tumbling down the steps.
“Lydia!”
Gideon’s face changed drastically, rushing down to pick her up.
Blood was already seeping through Phoebe’s skirt, and she weakly pointed at me.
“Sister… why did you push me…”
Gideon looked up, furious. “Nora!”
“She fell on her own…”
People had already gathered around, their pointing and judging eyes stabbing at me like daggers.
Gideon stormed up, shouting, “Isn’t it enough that you killed my child? You won’t even spare Lydia’s?!”
Looking at Gideon’s furious face, I felt a surge of unnamable anger.
I trembled all over, then suddenly slapped him hard.
“Was it just your child?”
My tears flowed uncontrollably.
“Gideon, as a mother, my pain is a thousand times worse than yours!”
Gideon’s face turned to one side, and when he slowly turned back, his eyes were filled with shock, anger… and a hint of a pain I had never seen before.
“Nora…”
He instinctively reached out to wipe my tears.
But in the next moment, a tall and broad figure stood between us.
“You don’t deserve to say her name.”
Declan’s voice was low and cold.
4:58 AM
<
Declan’s voice was low and cold.
“Declan!” Gideon gritted his teeth. “This is between her and me…”
“Mr. Gideon, you’ve already accepted my one billion, so it’s my business now.”
Declan sneered, casually showing his phone.
“Control your dog that likes to bite. If she dares hurt my woman, the consequences are something you won’t want to face.”
The screen clearly showed Phoebe letting go and falling backward on her own.
Gideon’s face changed drastically, instinctively looking at Phoebe.
She was pale, grabbing his arm in panic.
“Gideon, it’s not like that… It’s just the angle! Why would I risk my own child to frame my sister?”
Declan wasn’t interested in the drama anymore.
He draped his suit jacket over my shoulders and turned to leave with me.
In the extended Maybach, Declan gently wiped away my tears.
His touch was light, as if afraid of breaking something precious.
“Does it hurt?”
He asked softly.
I shook my head, but the tears fell even more.
Declan sighed, suddenly pulling me into his arms.
The fresh cedar scent enveloped me, his warm palm gently rubbing my back.
“Go ahead and cry,” he said. “I’m here.”
Those simple three words seemed to open a floodgate.
I clung to his shirt, crying like a child.
All the grievances, pain, and unwillingness poured out completely at that moment.
Declan let my tears soak through his shirt, only holding me tighter.
For the first time, I felt a long–lost sense of security.
