Her tone was calm, but every word hit like a knife twisting deeper.


    "The family never interfered with his dating life. We only reminded him to treat those girls well while itsted.


    "But that courtesy ends when the rtionship does. He knows his limits. That''s why his previous girlfriends neversted more than six months, and each one left with a generous settlement.


    "There was never any drama. Zane has taste, and those girls had enough sense to walk away quietly.


    "But this time, it seems he made a mistake. Ms. Sweeting, tell me what did you do to end up carrying his child?"


    Mary rk''s voice never rose, but the softness in it made every word sting sharper than a shout.


    Jessica had known Zane dated before. She''d assumed the breakups were due to work or personality differences.


    Now she saw the truth. Those women had never mattered to him. They were just ceholders.


    He was awyer, one who needed a spotless public image. Having a "girlfriend" had been nothing but part of the show.


    And she, Jessica, wasn''t even that. She was something less.


    No one was told that she was his girlfriend.


    Her face drained of color. Her fists tightened, her throat closing up.


    "I didn''t manipte him," she said hoarsely. "This baby was an ident."


    Zane had always been careful with protection, so Jessica never imagined she''d end up pregnant.


    She hadn''t nned to justify herself, but Mary''s words were pure venom. The woman clearly believed she had trapped Zane on purpose, maybe even sabotaged the protection to get pregnant.


    "If you say it was an ident, then fine, it was an ident," Mary said, her tone cold and measured. "But there''s no point in dwelling on it now."


    She nodded once, then continued with practiced indifference.


    "Since it was an ident, it should be handled like one. I''ll arrange the best doctor for you. We can have it taken care of this afternoon."


    Jessica''s whole body went cold.


    In Mary''s eyes, what was her baby-just a problem to erase?


    A mistake that didn''t even need her consent to be destroyed?


    Her chest tightened as she forced herself to breathe. "Does Zane even know you''re here?"


    Mary''s lips curved into a faint,


    polished smile. "Ms. Sweeting, Zane left for Halden and hasn''t returned Yet here Tam Do you think that''s Coincidence?


    He hasnt chat''s


    called you today, has he? Some things are better left unsaid. Asking too much


    only hurts you."


    Jessica almostughed at the absurdity. She had actually nned to tell Zane about the pregnancy face-to-face.


    Even when Gianna''s interference


    had stopped her from seeing him, she tossed and turned all night, wondering if Zane would be happy to hear he was going to be a father. She had thought maybe he''d want to be one.


    But now she knew better.


    He already knew—and instead ofing himself, he had sent his parents to erase the problem.


    Her teeth sank into her tongue until she tasted blood.


    Her eyes dropped to her stomach, then lifted sharply to meet Mary''s cold gaze.


    "Mary, the Shaymans are supposed to be a family ofwyers. Don''t you know you have no right to force me into an abortion? Or do you believe your family''s above thew now?"


    Mary''s smile barely shifted. "You don''t need to put on a performance."


    She reached into her purse, pulled out a card, andid it on the table in front of Jessica.


    "You worked hard to get pregnant. I won''t let that effort go to waste. There''s three million here—call it a recovery allowance andpensation for emotional distress.


    "You''re young. End the pregnancy, take the money, buy yourself a small ce, and find a man who actually fits your level. It''s the smart choice."


    Jessica stared at the card and gave a short, bitterugh.


    She pped once, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Mary, are you e seriously recycling storylines from. old soap operas? This is anerent.


    And three million? That''s what you think I''m worth?"


    She covered her mouth andughed harder, shaking her head. "Unbelievable. Truly unbelievable."


    Mary''s expression hardened, and the maid behind her stepped forward, jabbing a finger toward Jessica.


    "Three million is too much for someone like you! You''re a nobody! Ourdy meeting you in person is more respect than you''ll ever deserve! You should be—"