Chapter 8
The nurse was just about to speak when Liam happened to pass by. With a light laugh, he said, “It’s a pregnant woman from upstairs. She got kicked out by her previous hospital. Soren, don’t pay attention to their gossip. These nurses hear so many rumors every day, they’re bound to get their stories mixed up.
Soren trusted Liam, as always.
After all, he and Evangeline had been careful for years, and having a child was nearly impossible for her.
He spoke casually. “How’s Evangeline? I heard she’s here too.”
Liam averted his eyes, guilt flickering across his face. “Oh, she’s fine. Just a few scrapes, nothing serious.”
“Maybe she heard you were worried about Poppy and pretended to get hurt–trying to make you jealous.”
Liam risked a glance at Soren.
But Soren didn’t suspect a thing. He just frowned, gave a short, disbelieving laugh, and walked away.
Liam finally let out a breath of relief.
After Soren left, he turned to the two nurses and warned in a low voice, “No one is to talk about the patient in this room. Not a word to anyone.”
Soren and Poppy were finally finding their way back to each other, and Liam didn’t want anything to mess that up.
Even though he knew Soren didn’t care for Evangeline, he couldn’t be sure–what if Soren ended up feeling something for Evangeline’s child? What if guilt or sympathy changed everything?
No matter what happened, Liam was determined–Evangeline’s schemes would never succeed as long as he was around.
Two days after being discharged, Evangeline went to buy a burial plot for her child.
This baby had never been wanted, so she hadn’t bothered preparing the tiny and toys most mothers collect in anticipation.
clothes
She went to the department store and, guided by a sales assistant, bought
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everything that seemed suitable. In the end, even the assistant tried to stop her
“Ma’am, babies grow so fast. You really don’t need to buy so much–It’ll just go to waste.”
Evangeline felt her nose sting with tears. She shook her head.
Her child would never have the chance to outgrow anything.
She’d braced herself for this, but when the time actually came–when she saw the small coffin lowered into the earth, and watched the final shovel of dirt she couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Maybe the baby would’ve been mischievous and clever, just like she was as a little girl. Or maybe calm, sharp–eyed and quick–witted, like Soren had been. Or maybe just quiet and sweet, a gentle soul all her own.
Maybe she would have loved to sing, or dance, or taken after her father and become a business prodigy.
The future was supposed to be wide open.
Evangeline had imagined a hundred ways Soren might react when he found out about the child. But she’d never imagined this: that the baby would be gone before Soren ever even knew she existed.
She and this child–fated to meet, yet destined to part.
Her baby had chosen her to be a mother, and she couldn’t do a thing to save her. Not even her life.
“Ma’am, what name should I put on the headstone?” asked the cemetery worker quietly.
Evangeline realized, with a pang, that her baby didn’t even have a name.
She thought for a moment, voice thick with grief. “Alison Whitmore.”
She would always be Evangeline’s child. And in another life, no matter who her parents turned out to be, Evangeline hoped she’d find happiness.
The shrill ring of her phone cut through her reverie.
Evangeline took it out of her pocket. Soren’s mother–her mother–in–law, Helena Carlisle–was calling.
“Evangeline, I hear you haven’t been home for three days now. Hah, you’re getting. bolder by the day, aren’t you?”
ריידי
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“Tell me, what’s that supposed to mean?” Helena’s voice was icy, her tone accusing the moment the call connected.
This time, Evangeline didn’t rush to explain herself. Her voice was calm and steady. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
Helena paused, clearly taken aback, then snapped, “Evangeline, what is that supposed to mean?”
It was always like this. No matter what she said, Helena would find fault, picking at her every word.
She’d never been good enough for Helena, who never missed a chance to stir up trouble between her and Soren. Not long after they married, when Soren made a habit of staying out late just to avoid her, Helena would insist that Evangeline call him or go looking for him herself.
Chapter 9
