Chapter 3

Sabine's POV

Ronan scowled at me like I was insane. "Sabine, do you really have to make this so ugly? Let's just go home."

I knew him too well. Beneath that polite facade, he didn't care if I cheated, and he didn't care whose baby Sorrel was. He only wanted an excuse to drag me—a weak, bleeding woman—back to his house to torture me in private. And if the baby and I happened to suffer a "fatal accident," that massive life insurance payout would fall right into his lap.

"This is the only way to prove my innocence." I met his gaze, deadpan. "It won't cost the Haverfords a cent. My parents will pay for the DNA test."

As long as it didn't cost him money, Ronan’s frown vanished. He shut his mouth, silently agreeing.

"Have you no shame?!" Coralie pointed at me, spitting mad. "You take another man to your bed, have a bastard, and now you want the whole family to do a DNA test? You just want to make us a laughingstock!"

I glanced at her shaking shoulders and let out a chilling laugh.

"If you're so sure I cheated, a DNA test gives you ironclad proof." I stared into her shifting, terrified eyes. "You're trying awfully hard to stop this. Coralie... what exactly are you afraid of?"

"You lying bitch!" Coralie shrieked like a stepped-on cat, lunging forward.

"Enough!" Darius finally lost patience. His face was rigid as he glared at me. "Blood test. Tomorrow morning."

"Fine by me," I nodded.

Coralie gasped for air, dragging her finger from me to the bassinet. "Fine. You want to squat in this hospital, go ahead. But there's no one at the house to feed your little beasts. If those animals run away, don't blame me."

My heart jumped. This was her exact move from my past life—selling my dog, Rook, and my cat, Kaelin, while I was gone, using the cash to fund her gambling.

I looked at Ronan. My husband was leaning against the window scrolling on his phone, not even looking up.

I wouldn't make the same mistake twice. I didn't cry. I didn't beg. I just closed my eyes, curled around the sleeping Sorrel, and typed blindly under the blanket to Marcella: [Go to my house. Save Rook and Kaelin.]

Early the next morning, a nurse rolled a blood-draw cart into the room.

Darius and Ronan stood by with dark expressions. Unsurprisingly, Coralie—who was the loudest yesterday—was nowhere to be found.

My phone buzzed. Marcella: [Done. By the time Leo and I got there, your mother-in-law was dragging Rook toward a dog trafficker's truck. Leo almost broke the guy's jaw. Both pets are safe at my place.]

I let out a long breath. The rock in my chest finally vanished.

Rapid footsteps echoed in the hall. The door flew open, and my parents, who had just flown back into the country, rushed in. Seeing my pale face, my mother, Vivianne, burst into tears.

"My baby..." she hugged me, shaking.

My father, Garrett, walked straight up to Darius, his eyes like daggers. "Darius, I gave my clean, innocent daughter to your family, not for you to throw dirt on her. I know Sabine's character. She would never betray your son."

Darius, backed into a corner, gritted his teeth. "Draw it," he barked at the nurse. "Right now."

Ronan reluctantly rolled up his sleeve and offered his arm.

Watching the dark red blood fill the vial, a cold smile crept onto my lips.

As soon as the nurse packed up, I dialed Coralie's number on speakerphone in front of everyone.

It rang for a long time.

"Coralie, it's Sabine," I said. "The blood is drawn. The expedited results are out this afternoon. If you're still at the casino, you'd better catch a cab back to St. Verrine. Weren't you so sure I cheated? This is gonna be a great show—you won't want to miss it."