Chapter 452
Chapter 452:
“I don’t see a broken god,” she said, her voice trembling. “I see the man who jumped into a freezing river to save me. I see the man who spent months in the shadows just to make sure I was still breathing. I see the father of my child.” She took one of his hands and pressed it firmly against her stomach. “He’s kicking, Dallas. He knows you’re here p>
Dallas’s breath hitched. He tried to pull his hand back, his fingers curling as though the contact burned him. Then a small, distinct thump hit his palm.
His eyes widened. A single tear finally escaped, tracing a path through the stubble on his cheek.
“He — he’s really there,” Dallas whispered.
“He’s really here. And he needs a father who is brave enough to stay — not a coward who is too proud to be imperfect p>
Dallas let out a sound that was half-sob, half-laugh. He dropped the cane — the wood clattering on the stone tiles — and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in tight and burying his face in the crook of her neck. He smelled of antiseptic and old smoke and the familiar, musky scent that was simply him.
“I’m so sorry,” he choked out, his body shaking. “I’m so sorry, Eliza p>
Eliza held him back, her fingers digging into the heavy wool of his coat. She felt the baby kick again — a tiny bridge between two broken people.
𝘑𝗈𝗂𝘯 𝗍𝗵o𝗎𝗌𝖺𝗻𝖽𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝖿аn𝘴 𝗈ո 𝗀а𝗹ո𝗼v𝖾𝗹ѕ.𝗰𝗈𝗺
“Don’t be sorry,” she whispered. “Just be here p>
They stood in the fog for a long time, two silhouettes blurred by the mist, holding onto each other as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist. For the first time in months, the weight in Eliza’s chest felt lighter. The secrets were gone. The mask was off.
Then Eliza felt a sudden, sharp chill that had nothing to do with the weather.
Her phone buzzed in her robe pocket. She pulled it out, her blood running cold at the headline.
Billionaire Matriarch Dosha Norton Released on Bail, Citing Illegal Evidence.
As if on cue, the phone began to ring. Unknown number. She looked at Dallas, her eyes wide with new fear, and answered on speaker.
A voice — as cold and cruel as the sea — slithered through the phone.
“Enjoying the reunion, little bird?” It was Dosha.
Eliza scanned the empty rooftop, a fresh wave of terror washing over her. “How p>
“Don’t worry, I’m not there,” Dosha purred. “But I’m watching. And I want you to know something.” A pause. “It isn’t over p>
The warmth of the rooftop was gone the moment they stepped back into the private VIP suite.
Dallas was back in bed, hooked up to a fresh IV bag by his personal nurse. He looked exhausted, but the hollow look in his eyes had been replaced by a grim, focused intensity.
Azalea was pacing the room, her phone glued to her ear.
“How is she out?” Azalea screamed into the phone. “We had her! The Feds had her!” She slammed the phone down and looked at Dallas.
“A technicality. Her lawyers argued that the evidence Jeannine provided was obtained through illegal surveillance. A judge in New York signed a bail order an hour ago.” Dallas’s jaw tightened. “She’s taunting us. She called Eliza p>
“What?” Azalea froze.