Marcus’s POV
I stood frozen, watching Anna’s profile in the afternoon sunlight. Seeing her again aroused of emotion through so powerful I nearly staggered. My children-our twins-were growing inside her, and she had no idea I knew.
"Just picking up so dication for my father," I said smoothly, forcing my voice to remain casual. "He’s feeling a bit under the weather today."
Elizabeth Shaw studied with barely concealed suspicion, her protective stance beside Anna speaking volus.
"We just finished Anna’s checkup. She was feeling a bit dizzy this morning."
My chest tightened with concern. I wanted to step forward, to offer my arm for support, to be the one she leaned on. Instead, I maintained my careful distance, this charade of polite interest killing by inches.
"Would you like to recomnd a specialist? I have connections here." Murphy Global owned a significant stake in this hospital.
"How’s William doing? Is it serious?" Anna asked, her genuine concern for my father warming sothing inside . Even now, even after everything, her kindness remained intact.
"Just a minor cold," I replied softly, unable to tear my eyes from her face.
Elizabeth adjusted her grip on Anna’s arm. "We should be going. Annie needs to rest."
Anna nodded, squaring her shoulders with that quiet determination I’d always admired. "It’s getting late. We shouldn’t keep Uncle Marcus from getting William’s dicine." She paused, her voice growing more formal. "T’ll visit him soon. Goodbye, Uncle Marcus."
"Head ho soon," I managed, struggling to maintain my usual tone.
"Co by for dinner soti."
She nodded politely-the kind of aningless social gesture exchanged between casual acquaintances- before turning away, flanked by her mother and their security detail. I remained rooted to the spot, watching their silver car pull away from the curb and disappear into the afternoon traffic.
"Sir?" Peter’s voice broke through my trance. "Should we follow them or...?"
I forced myself to turn toward the hospital entrance. "Let’s get the dicine."
- - -
William looked genuinely confused when I handed him the packages later that evening. We sat in his study at Murphy Estate, the amber glow of table lamps casting long shadows across the antique furniture.
"What’s this for? Who’s sick?" He examined the cold dicine with furrowed brows.
"The weather’s been unpredictable.
Just stocking up for you." I passed the packages to the housekeeper, my mind still fixed on Anna’s pregnant form, the gentle curve of protection her hand had ford over her belly.
A peculiar expression crossed my father’s face-touched, perhaps, by what he perceived as thoughtfulness.
The irony wasn’t lost on . These dicines were rely a pretext to see Anna, yet they’d inadvertently created this mont of apparent filial devotion.
"I saw Anna today," I said finally, my voice low. "At the hospital."
William’s eyes sharpened instantly. "Is she alright? The babies?"
"They seed fine." I moved to the window, staring out at the manicured grounds of Murphy Estate. The words I needed to say next lodged in my throat like broken glass.
"Dad," I began, the informal address feeling strange on my tongue, "while I’m away, please look after her for ."
His stunned silence confird my suspicion—I rarely addressed him so personally.
"Have you gotten yourself into trouble overseas?" he asked, concern evident in his weathered features.
I turned to face him, allowing so of my burden to show. "Sothing like that. I won’t be able to return often until matters are resolved." I swallowed hard. "I’m sorry to burden you with this."
William’s expression softened in a way I hadn’t seen since childhood. "Those are your children, my future grandchildren. I’d risk my life to protect them."
Unexpected warmth spread through my chest. For years, I’d believed an unbridgeable chasm separated us, but in this mont, I felt his profound fatherly love.
"Resolve things quickly and return to marry Annie," he said firmly, authority returning to his voice. "Your children deserve their father’s na."
Anna’s POV
I stared at my phone screen for what felt like hours, my finger hovering over the contact labeled simply "3303." The ride ho from the hospital had been quiet, with Mom shooting those knowing glances that made my skin crawl. eting Marcus Murphy in the hospital parking lot had thrown off balance more than I cared to admit.
Once alone in my bedroom, I kicked off my shoes and sank onto the edge of my bed. The twins stirred inside , a gentle fluttering that still took my breath away each ti. My hand instinctively moved to cradle my slightly rounded belly.
The mory of Marcus’s face when he spotted outside the hospital replayed in my mind. The flash of sothing in his eyes—was it longing?
Regret? Whatever it was, it had disappeared so quickly I might have imagined it.
My phone screen illuminated with a notification. Catherine asking about nursery colors. I ignored it and instead opened the ssaging app, finding the conversation with "3303."
Our last exchange had been weeks ago —a simple rejection from him when I’d suggested continuing our arrangent, followed by my equally simple "It’s fine." Nothing since.
Now, with twins growing inside — his twins, though he had no idea-the ti had co to close this Chapter permanently.
I began typing: "This arrangent ends here. You’re free to find soone else."
My thumb hovered over the send button. Was I being fair? This naless, faceless man had unknowingly fathered my children.
Did he deserve more than this cold dismissal?
_No. I stole his seed, plain and simple. We never agreed to create life together._
The thought sat uncomfortably in my chest, a weight that pressed against my lungs. But that had been my plan all along, hadn’t it? Find soone, get pregnant, raise my heir alone. Keep the Shaw legacy intact without the complication of love or commitnt.
I hit send before I could second-guess myself.
Three dots appeared, disappeared, then nothing.
I waited five minutes, ten, fifteen. No response ca.
Next thing I know, I deleted his contact information and blocked him.
Reviews
All reviews (0)