Page 131 of My Damaged Protector

And maybe if he hadn't turned out to be who he was, maybe I'd still be with him. Maybe I never would have met Ian again. Maybe I wouldn't be pregnant, and Peter wouldn’t have been able to blackmail me.

A life where I never get to see Ian again. Could I really be happy about that?

While things with him haven't exactly been perfect, it's been beautiful. Love with Ian is the kind of love every girl ought to experience. Even if not forever, maybe once in a lifetime. Something to look back on and smile.

I love him, don't I?

Fuck me.

I'm in love with Ian, and I'm about to go kill his child. I will never forgive myself for this.

I need a way out of this whole mess. A solution that won't harm either Olivia or this new life inside of me. Something has to be done.

I'mtired to the bone by the time I finally arrive at the hospital. It's noon. But there's a small silver lining in the whole situation: there's no paparazzi around.

Trying to make myself look as presentable as I can after a long drive, I get out of my car and walk inside the hospital.

I know where Neville’s room is, at least where it was, and taking a chance that he hasn’t been switched, I venture toward the unit.

Opening the door when I'm in front of his room, I peep in.

Yup, he's still there.

He looks like someone who's ready to die. If my heart wasn't radiating with hate toward him and his son, maybe I would pity him.

His eyes open as I enter, a faint smile touching his face as he sees me.

“Mabel,” he whispers. I freeze in my tracks. He just called me Mabel. That's my mother's name, not mine.

“I'm so glad you came to see me. Please come close. I want to apologize for how horribly I've treated you and our butterfly.”

Is this a joke?

Is this some prank being pulled to make me feel horrible?

The door opens behind me, and I glance over to see Peter. He smiles when he sees me.

“Sarah, I'm so glad you're here,” he says, stepping closer to hug me. I step out of his hug.

He's delusional if he thinks I'm going to let him anywhere close to me after what he did last night and what he's making me do right now.

He lets his hands fall, a grim look replacing the once radiant smile on his face. I hate that we have a similar look on our face when we're sad.

“I understand how you feel about me right now. But I promise you, I wouldn't be doing this if there was any other way. You're family, and I'm going to make it up to you. You'll have another child again, I promise.”

I want to smack him across the face so badly my palm itches.

How dare he say something like this to me?

I'll have another child again, but not this one inside me?

Bastard.

“Mabel.” Neville speaks again, drawing our attention back to him. I glance at him, unsure of what to make of his apparent confusion.

Stepping toward him, Peter takes one of his hands into his own.

“Pop, this isn't Mabel. This is Sarah, your daughter. Sarah's going to save you. You'll be fine soon.”

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