Chapter 4

The wheels then began to turn. Eden clamped feverishly in her fingers to the back of the chair, as if a chasm opened under his feet, but she did not protest and was not overwhelmed by tears.

Somehow, she had expected this answer, and hearing him say it freed her from a weight.

She felt stronger. A great calm took hold of her. She strove to muster all his courage and pride.

Crying would be for later, when she would be alone.

She was used to it, since she knew he was pregnant.

The emergency was the baby. What would become of her?

"You are responsible for this child," she replied, ashamed to hear that her voice was trembling, and eager to hide any weakness from him.

“It's your duty to assume this birth”

Eden was ready to fight tooth and nail for this baby. Her own happiness, her emotions, all that no longer mattered.

She would stand firm, no matter what horrible words Ivan would shout at her, and even if he hit her like her father did at