“You and Quinn are divorced. Why cling to the past? Besides, you love me. Does it really matter who saved you?” 

“Of course it matters! If Quinn saved me and you didn’t, how could I justify letting her down for you? Sidonie, you’ve ruined my life!” Trent said through gritted teeth. 

“I ruined your life?” Sidonie stared at him, stunned he would say such words. 

“Isn’t that the truth? Without your lic, I would never have divorced Quinn!” Trent shouted. 

“So every bit of blame falls on me? Who rushed to my side the moment I returned to the country, wagging his tail for a scrap of attention? Who came running whenever I called and showered me with gifts? If you truly cherished Quinn, why were you so easy for me to command? Even your wedding rings were cheap knockoffs. You looked down on her, Trent. If your so–called savior had been a nobody, you would have thrown a bit of money her way and called the debt settled. It’s because I’m a Stonehurst and Nimbus Air’s co–pilot that you groveled for me.” 

Each word landed like a slap across Trent’s face. 

Furious, he lunged forward, fingers tightening around her throat. “Shut up!” 

Sidonie struggled, her face reddening. “Trent… are you going to kill me? Murder carries a price. My parents are outside–you can’t possibly escape.” 

Reality crashed over him. He released her at once. 

Sidonie collapsed, coughing hard, one hand pressed to her bruised neck as she stared at the man before her in disbelief. 

This was the man she once thought beneath her–the man she had always believed loved her without question. 

At times, Trent weighed every possible gain against every loss, yet he had always been kind toward Sidonie. 

She had believed that once he discovered the life growing inside her, every lie she had ever spun would be brushed aside without a second thought. Only now did she grasp a darker truth: this man might have never loved her for real. 

“Trent Grafton, how can you try to kill me? You told me you loved me!” she said, her voice hoarse. 

“Love you?” Trent flared. “Sidonie Stonehurst, after the way you tricked me, how could I still love you? If killing you did not mean prison, I would do it without hesitation.” 

“But I am carrying your child. Are you willing to murder the baby, too?” 

“The child, yes, the child,” he answered, voice like ice. “I came today to tell you one thing. Terminate this pregnancy. Do not imagine you can threaten me with a baby.” 

“What? You want me to get rid of our child?” Sidonie was in disbelief. 

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“Yes. I do not need that child, and a woman like you is not worthy of bearing mine.” Trent spoke with disdain swirling in his eyes. 

Sidonie stood frozen. 

Unworthy? He’s the one who was unworthy! He was a penniless boy staring up at me, the daughter of the Stonehurst family, a girl whose future seemed carved in gold. 

Back then, she had looked at him with silent contempt. Tonight, their roles were brutally reversed. 

“I will not end this pregnancy.” She rose, shaky but defiant. “Do not think you can walk away so easily. If you care about your reputation, you had better hire a first–rate attorney and clear my name. You would not want the mother of your child to be a convicted criminal, would you?” 

“You dare threaten me?” His face turned storm–dark. 

“I am only stating the facts.” 

“I will never marry you. Even if you give birth to the child, do not dream of joining the Grafton family.” 

“You’ll never marry me? Do you truly think Quinn Bridger will remarry you? You believe she still loves you?” 

A sudden light flared in Trent’s eyes. Yes. Quinn. If Quinn would take me back, every snarl of my present troubles might unravel in an instant. As long as Quinn still feels something for me. 

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