In that moment, something in me broke.
I brushed away my tears and dialed a number I hadn’t called in years.
The man on the other end answered with a low, dangerous chuckle. “So, you’ve finally come to beg me?”
——
“What… what did you say?” My voice shook.
“Lily’s kidnapping can’t be exposed,” Lucas had told me coldly earlier. “She just signed a major international endorsement. If this leaks, it’s over for her. But you—your name’s not out there. If you admit it happened to you, the public will move on quickly.”
I stared at the man I had loved for so many years. “Lucas… do you even hear yourself?”
“You wanted to acknowledge Lily’s child, and I let you. Now I’m just asking for one more thing.”
“You want me to pretend I was the one kidnapped and raped?”
“Nina,” he said gently. “Please help me.”
“You want me to destroy my reputation for her?” I asked, my voice cracked.
“Lily can’t handle this. Her depression is serious,” he pleaded. “But you—you’re strong. You can take it.”
“So I should be the one to suffer?” I forced the words out.
“It’s not suffering. It’s temporary,” he said, softening his tone. “Nina… can you… have the abortion first?”
My world crumbled.