Chapter 86

Drake’s POV

She still hadn’t moved. Still staring at nothing, her hand resting protectively where life had already begun.

Fear lived there now.

But so did strength.

“This child won’t take anything from you,” I said quietly, not expecting an answer. “I’ll make sure of it.”

She didn’t respond.

And that was fine.

For now.

Because whether she accepted it today or fought me tomorrow, one thing was certain.

I was not losing my child.

And I was not losing everything I had built to people who didn’t deserve it.

Not to Margaret.

Not to Jack.

Not ever.

***

The house felt wrong the moment I stepped inside.

Too quiet. Too cold. The kind of silence that wasn’t peace but tension waiting to explode. I loosened my tie as I walked in, shrugging off my jacket and tossing it aside. My mind was still with Chloe. Her shaking hands. Her eyes full of fear she tried so hard to hide. The word pregnant echo