He actually gave our child’s name to someone else? Did he intend to link hearts with another woman? Nolan—that was the name he gave me on my eighteenth birthday, the day I offered myself to him. He hugged me in excitement and said that if we ever had a child, we’d name him Nolan, meaning our hearts would forever be joined.
Before I could gasp in anger, a crisp slap cracked through the hall. I snapped back to see the baby lying on the floor, blood trickling from his forehead. Nathan was holding him, glaring at me with fury.
Beside him, Victoria wept in anguish.
“Sister, even if you dislike my child, you can’t throw him in public! He’s Nathan’s child, too! How could you be so cruel?” She tried desperately to take the baby back.
“Nathan, let me go! I love you, I’m willing to stay hidden, but I can’t let my child’s life be toyed with.”
“How could you do this, sister? Just because I’m powerless, does that give her the right to throw Nathan to his death in public?”
Her sobs drove Nathan into a panic. He rushed to embrace her and the crying child.
“Victoria, look at me. Nolan is our precious son. I won’t let anyone hurt him. I love you, I love our child, and I’ll protect you with my life.”