Chapter 116. DNA Deception (2)

Vanessa's POV

I could still feel the echo of Andre's heartbeat when he held me earlier, his chest rising and falling like a fortress of calm around my chaos. But calm doesn't last. Not for someone like me.

"I need to go home," I whispered, gripping the strap of my bag tightly. My fingers trembled, but I refused to let him see just how much. "I need to clear my head."

Andre looked at me with that unreadable expression again. Half stern, half something that looked too much like pain. "Vanessa, don't do this. You should be here. With me. Where I can protect you."

Protect me. I repeated in my head.

I wanted to believe him. But everything I thought was safe had twisted itself into something else. My pregnancy. The baby. The truth that was supposed to protect me had nearly shattered me. The bump was growing bigger by the day, and me? I was getting more attached to the baby, and I couldn't stand to watch it get hurt.

"I just need a few h