Chapter 20
Andrew didn’t dodge fast enough. Vernon’s punch sent him sprawling.
For the first time, Vernon completely lost it, landing blow after blow. If the butler hadn’t rushed in, Andrew might’ve been beaten
to death right there.
Vernon barely noticed the blood on his own hands. He just stood there, ice–cold, staring down at the broken man beneath him.
“How much do you hate Lena that you keep trying to destroy her? Do you even get how many people were watching tonight? How
many saw your pathetic little stunt? What do you think they’ll say about her now? Or do you want the whole world to rip her
apart?”
“No, I didn’t-”
Andrew tried to push himself up, but the second he opened his mouth, he coughed up blood.
Vernon’s foot slammed into his chest.
“Didn’t what, Andrew Rohan? Let me spell it out for you–if Lena still gave a damn about you, you’d be dead the second you set
foot in Engloria.”
Andrew hit the ground again, too wrecked to move.
Vernon towered over him, his voice like a blade. “Do you even know what today is? It’s not just Lena’s birthday–it’s the day she
found out she’s going to be a mother.”
Boom.
Andrew’s mind went blank. He just stared. “What… what did you just say?”
Then, out of nowhere, he lunged.
His fist swung wildly. “How dare you! How dare you! She’s still so young–how could you let this happen?”
Vernon didn’t even blink. His bodyguards tackled Andrew before he could land a hit, slamming him back into the ground.
“How dare I?” Vernon scoffed. “Because Lena loves me. And I love her. Because we want this family.”
His voice sharpened. “But if we’re talking audacity–how about you? You threw her into a freezing storage room when you knew
she was sensitive to the cold.
“You beat her within an inch of her life. Her father trusted you, and you nearly got her killed.
“So tell me, how did you dare?”
Andrew’s face drained of color.
Vernon let out a cold laugh. “Lena’s pregnant, but thanks to you, the baby isn’t stable. If you have even a shred of decency left-
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Chapter 20
stay the hell away from her.‘
He didn’t bother looking at Andrew again.
Shrugging off his bloodstained coat, he headed back to the Chopard estate.
After cleaning up–making sure not a trace of blood remained–he slipped quietly into the bedroom.
Lena was curled up, cradling her abdomen in her sleep. A flicker of tenderness crossed his eyes.
Carefully, he pulled her into his arms and let sleep take him.
***
