The incident will blow up, and tomorrow’s gossip columns and headlines will be screaming about the arrest of Wood Corp’s heir. My name would be dragged in there.


    People will start asking questions, and we can all agree that I do not want any of our family finding out


    about this.


    “I’ll handle it,” I mutter, hanging up before she could say more.


    Cursing under my breath, I shove off the covers and stomp to the door. My anger burns hot, cutting


    through my exhaustion and it zes hotter with every step I take.


    I wrench it open and re at him.


    Noah stands there, shoulders rigid. Chest heaving and eyes wild. His fists are tight at his sides and he


    looks like barely contained violence, like every muscle in his body is begging tosh out.


    The target? Me.


    “What the hell is wrong with you?” My voice shakes through the hallway, sharp and unafraid.


    “You turned your phone off,” he barks, stepping closer. “You think you can ignore me?”


    “I can and I did,” I spit. “You don’t get to demand anything from me, Noah.”


    His jaw clenches, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “You think you’re clever? Running your mouth to my mother? Telling her about the pregnancy? What exactly did you say to her?”


    Huh. So he thinks I’m the one that told Aunt Ava? Why does he always assume the worst in me? What even gave him the impression that I’m the one who told her? Or is he just looking for someone to me?


    My chest constricts. “So that’s what this is about. You wake me up in the middle of the night and disturb my neighbors just to use me of something I didn’t do?”


    “Don’t lie to me, Sierra.” His voice drops, cold and dangerous. “You’ve always wanted an in. Always wanted to tie yourself to me. Now you think this baby is your golden opportunity”


    I stare at him. For a moment words fail me. I don’t know why or what gave him the impression that I’d force myself on him. I loved him, but I’m also not foolish. I would never tie myself to a man that hates me.


    I’d rather die than ept such a fate.


    The words stab deep, slicing me wide open, but I refuse to let him see it.


    Straightening my back, I lift my chin. “You think too highly of yourself, Noah Not everything in my life revolves around you.”


    “Don’t y innocent.” He steps closer, towering over me, rage radiating from him.


    443


    “Screw you, Noah.”


    His re sharpens, his voice is filled with so much venom. “You’re going to get rid of it. One way or


    another.”


    The floor tilts under me and my hands shake. Those fucking words again. I’m so tired of hearing them because every time he says them, it makes me think ofmitting murder.


    My blood boils and my nails dig into my palm just to stop myself from wing out his filthy mouth. “Get rid of it? That’s your grand solution? You think you can pretend nothing happened between us? That it’ll erase your guilt? You think I don’t know why you want my baby gone so badly?”


    I’ve been thinking about it and I finally figured things out. This isn’t just about Noah’s hate for me; this is also about his loyalty to Chloe.


    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he sneers, but I see it in his eyes. His panic, his guilt.


    “This is about Chloe and we both know it,” I say through gritted teeth. “<b>If </b>only you knew the kind of


    woman you were married to.”


    He moves fast, and before I know it, he has my shoulders in a punishing grip. “Don’t you fucking talk


    about my wife like that.”


    “You mean your dead wife.” I sneer before using all my strength to shove him off me. “Killing my baby won’t erase your guilt. It won’t erase what you think is your mistake.”


    “It’s not my mistake,” he spits, his eyes zing. “It’s yours. And I won’t let you drag me down with you.”


    The words hit me like a whip. My hands shake, but my voicees out cold, cutting. “You’re right about one thing, Noah, sleeping together wasn’t just your mistake. It was ours. But if you think I’ll let you dictate what happens to me or to my child, you’re dead wrong.”


    His re sharpens, but I push on. “You want to threaten me? Fine. But hear this–if you evere near me like this again, if you ever try to corner me, I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly what kind of man you really are. A man willing to kill his unborn child! That golden boy image you’ve spent years carving. what do you think will happen then?”


    “Are you threatening me?” he asks, his eyes cold and tone cial.


    “It’s a fucking warning,” I spit “I’m done with you walking all over me, Noah! Don’t fucking test me. If youe for me again, I’ll fucking destroy you. Stay the hell from me and my baby or else.”


    The wordsnd between us louder than his earlier pounding


    For the first time, Noah doesn’t look furious. He looks rattled.


    And with that I m the door in his face.