Page 146 of Bound By Crimson
She slid her hand to her belly, tracing soft, slow circles. Her fingers trembled.
She glanced at the bathroom door to make sure it was closed.
Then she bent closer to her stomach, her voice barely more than breath.
“You’re not an Edwin, are you?”
Silence answered her. But it was soft. Knowing.
She smiled, just slightly. “Your name is Noah.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Folded Note, Shattered Heart
She knew he was leaving again. He’d told her nearly a month ago. He said it was for a high-profile client in Europe.
It was too far to fly when she was this close to her due date. He told her it was for her safety—but part of her wasn’t sure it was the only reason.
There was no dramatic reveal, no cold announcement.
Just… a date that loomed closer every morning she woke in his arms.
And now, it was here.
Kai stood at the wardrobe, freshly showered, buttoning his cuffs.
She eased herself into a cross-legged position on the bed, one hand instinctively resting on the curve of her belly, folding his shirts like she had a thousand times before. Her movements were slow and careful. Gentle. Controlled.
He glanced back at her, smiling.
“You’ve gotten good at this.”
She forced a smile.
“Practice makes perfect.”
She didn’t want to make it harder. He was being kind—warm, even.
Everything between them had smoothed over in the past weeks. The nursery had gone quiet. Mrs. Thornwick’s snide comments had dulled. The storm had passed.
She told herself that.
He kissed the top of her head, his lips warm against her scalp.
“I’ll only be gone a week.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
His suitcase lay open beside her, half-packed.
She reached for one of his sweaters to fold—and saw it again.
The nightstand she had been staring at for weeks. The one Kai had quickly tossed that folded-up note into. The note that hadn’t left her mind since.
Every night she saw it. Every morning she thought about it. Sometimes she’d find herself halfway to the drawer before stopping, heart pounding, whispering to herself that it didn’t matter. But it did. It always did. And now—she couldn’t take it anymore.
