Page 46 of The Wrong Side Of Us

“It was while you were in Florida. You weren’t around.”

I set the empty ice cream tub on the nightstand and lay down, resting my head on his chest. Unable to stop myself, I kissed right over where his heart beat.

That, along with the heartbeat of our baby, had to be the sounds I loved the most. The more I thought of it, the more I realized how fragile life was. If that one organ ceased to beat, it was over. I closed my eyes, listening to the steady beat, cherishing every single one of them.

I would never tire of it.

“I saw the way he was looking at you, Evie,” he murmured, pressing a kiss on my head. “You may have not noticed it, but I did. I don’t mind you having friends. In fact, I want you to have friends, Evie. It’s just Derek…he has a bit of a history with women.”

“Like…a man whore?” I asked, glancing up at him.

Nathan snorted. “I suppose that’s one way to put it.”

“Do you not trust me?” I asked softly. “Why would you worry?”

Gaze softening, Nathan cupped my face in his hand, stroking my jawline with tenderness. “You don’t see yourself how others see you,” he murmured. “And you’re too good sometimes. Despite the things you’ve been through, you still don’t see the bad in people until they show it. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

I pressed my lips together, pondering his words. I couldn’t live in a world where I feared everyone, where I searched out their evil. I refused to bring my child into a world like that. I had to teach my baby to be cautious but not to be afraid.

I believed there was more good in this world than bad.

“I don’t need you to protect me,” I said quietly. “I appreciate it, but I can handle it. I’m not the same person I was even a year ago. I know that there’s bad people out there. I’ll be okay, though. I’m stronger than I was before.” I sighed, placing his hand over my little bump. “You’re the father of my baby. I can have many, many friends, but you’re the only one I want.”

With a kiss on the tip of my nose, Nathan pulled me close to him. “Our baby has behaved today, hm?”

“Yes,” I replied with a grin. I hadn’t been as nauseous, and my appetite had increased. “We’ll see if it’s the same tomorrow.”

***

Derek

I stared down at the picture in my hands. Hannah and Evelyn shared few physical resemblances, and from what I could tell, they were nothing alike personality-wise, either.

Hannah was uptight and distant while Evelyn was the complete opposite.

She was…interesting.

What I hadn’t expected was to see Maxwell again, much less in a relationship with the girl. She was head over heels for him; that much I could tell. It wouldn’t be easy to obtain what I wanted, not with Nathan around.

I heard footsteps approaching and tensed. This wasn’t something I did, but I needed the money. And revenge.

“Did you meet her?” the woman asked, sitting next to me on the sofa.

It was late, but she still managed to look well put together. I expected this from families of the “high class.”

I nodded, placing the picture back in my pocket.

“So…are you in?” she asked, smiling mischievously. The hatred this woman held was palpable.

There were many scenarios running through my head. Many ways this could turn out. But in my mind, there was only one goal in mind.

Destruction.

I stretched out my hand, taking hers and shaking it. This was it.

There was no going back now.

Chapter 18

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