Elysia squeezed her hand tightly. "Now that you finally see him for who he really is, don''t waste another second on that bastard."


    "You''re absolutely right. He and Dorian are two of a kind-birds of a feather flock together, that''s why they''re so close."


    Elysia''s voice was rising with emotion, so Amara interjected gently, “Ely, let''s not think about them right now. You just had the procedure you need to rest. Come on, lie down for a bit."


    Elysia nodded, letting Amara help her settle back onto the bed.


    Amara nned to sit with her for a while; she knew Elysia must be feeling awful, and honestly, she felt pretty terrible herself. It was good for both of them to have each other right now.


    Just then, the hospital room door swung open. Dorian stormed in, breathless, demanding, "Elysia, did you really have the baby terminated?"


    His eyes were rimmed red with anger, his face full of disbelief. He stood at the bedside, staring at Elysia as if he couldn''tprehend what he was hearing.


    Elysia hadn''t expected Dorian to show up so quickly, but she wasn''t surprised either -he was well-connected, probably even had someone at the hospital keeping him informed.


    She didn''t so much as flinch. "Yes, I did. Is there a problem?"


    Her calm reply struck Dorian like a bolt of lightning.


    He stared at her, eyes widening with shock, his hands and even his whole body starting to tremble.


    He lurched forward, grasping the bed rail, his voice low and trembling with anger. "Elysia, how could you be so heartless? That was our child, our own flesh and blood! How could you do this-how could you get rid of him..."


    Divorcing him was one thing, but to end the pregnancy without a word? The pain tore through him; he felt on the verge of losing control.


    Elysia''s face twisted for a moment. "Yes, our blood-his blood. That''s exactly why I was so desperate to end it. Just the thought of him carrying your blood made me sick."


    Dorian took a shaky step back, going pale. "You... think I''m disgusting?"


    He never imagined she would feel that way toward him. For a moment, he was speechless, unable to process the flood of emotions choking him.


    Elysia tossed her phone at him. "Dorian, you slept with Jessica ages ago and then lied to me about it! Seeing you disgusts me. I can''t even stand to look at you right now. Get out get out of my sight! Don''t ever let me see you again!"


    Elysia''s voice trembled, her anger barely contained.


    Dorian picked up the phone, and his eyes narrowed sharply when he saw the photo


    on the screen.


    "What is this? Did Jessica send this to you?"


    "That''s right," Elysia replied with a coldugh. "The evidence is staring you in the face. What do you possibly have to say for yourself?"


    "I don''t remember when that was taken. I never slept with Jessica! Dorian blurted. "Maybe it was some night was drunk, and she took the picture without my knowing no memory of this I swear!"


    have


    Dorian was starting to panic. He had no recollection of the photo-he was


    convinced he''d never so much as touched Jessica. He had never been with anyone except Elysia.


    Elysiaughed, the sound icy. "Dorian, we''re adults. Do you honestly expect me to believe that kind of nonsense?"


    "Your rtionship with Jessica has always been questionable. You''ve known her longer than youve known


    me. Now she sends me this picture, and I''m supposed to just take your word for it?"


    "Dorian, do you really think I''m that gullible?"