The Comments Said My Baby Was Worth A Billion-Dollar Empire Chapter 07

The Comments Said My Baby Was Worth A Billion-Dollar Empire Chapter 07

Mom’s eyes were still puffy when she walked in. She sat on the edge of the bed and stroked my hair.

“Baby, I was so scared.”

My throat ached. When I was little, even a scraped knee could ruin her whole day.

But what she said next froze me solid.

“Come home with me.”

I shook my head.

She gripped my hand. “The Vance family is too dangerous. Today it’s something in your milk. Tomorrow it could be a car accident.”

I pulled my hand free. “Then that’s exactly why I can’t leave.”

She stared at me. I held her gaze.

“If I leave, what happens to the baby?”

Mom looked away. “You don’t have to keep it.”

The words hung between us.

The room suddenly felt freezing. I couldn’t feel my fingers.

“Mom. What are you saying to me right now?”

Tears slid down her face. “You’re twenty-two. Without this baby, you get your whole life back.”

I wrapped both arms around my stomach and backed away. “You want me to get rid of my own child?”

She shook her head, sobbing. “I’m trying to save you.”

I stared at her, and the face I’d known my whole life suddenly looked like it belonged to a stranger.

Footsteps sounded in the hallway. Victor walked in with a folder.

“Mrs. Sterling. I canceled the flight you booked.”

Mom went white.

He set the folder in front of her. “And the appointment at the clinic. That’s canceled too.”

I looked at Mom. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Something huge and awful pressed down on my chest. The comments hadn’t lied.

Victor came to my side and tucked the blanket around me.

“Chloe. Come here.”

I didn’t move. I was crying too hard, and I didn’t want him to see.

He sat down on the bed and pulled me in anyway.

“Let it out.”

I fisted his shirt and sobbed until I couldn’t breathe.

“She doesn’t want my baby. She doesn’t want me either.”

Victor’s hand moved up and down my back, steady and slow. “I do.”

Those two words broke me open. I cried harder.

Mom stood frozen at the edge of the room, white as paper. She reached for me.

Victor’s hand came up between us. “She doesn’t want to see you right now.”

Mom faltered, then turned and left.

The door closed. I was wrung out, and I let myself fall against his chest.

“Victor.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll marry you tomorrow.”

He went still. I looked up at him.

“If you back out, I’ll take this baby and marry someone else.”

His gaze sharpened. “Don’t even think about it.”

I was about to fire back when my phone lit up. Julian.

[Something happened to Lily. She’s saying you pushed her down the stairs.]

Another message, right after.

[The police are downstairs.]