Chapter 76 Part 76

Chapter 76 Part 76
Merit

She wiped more tears from her face, the skin beneath her eyes raw and tender. Nothing in her life had gone the way she’d imagined it would. She was supposed to be a society princess, admired and envied, married into power with photographers flashing cameras at every event. Instead, she was alone, pregnant, and clinging to the last fragile threads of hope.
She had missed so many classes that she’d officially lost her scholarship. The email had come three days earlier. Formal. Polite. Final. She hadn’t even cried when she read it. She’d simply stared at the screen until the words blurred together. There was no one to call. No one to explain it to. No one who would care enough to fight for her.
Axl had told her to go home. He had told her not to contact Weston again. His voice had been controlled, distant. Cold. He still had a week left on his tour. He said he would call her. It was all she had left now, but Axl always kept his promises.
The cold glint in his eyes had returned that night backstage, and she had recognized it immediately. It was the look he wore when he decided to shut something off inside himself. He didn’t love her anymore. That truth had settled like ice in her chest.
He’d said he would help her. But not the way she wanted him to. He didn’t love her anymore. She pressed her hand against her stomach, fingers splayed protectively. She never thought this was how her life would turn out—pregnant and alone. But Axl would help her. He wasn’t heartless. He wouldn’t let her fall completely. She just needed to give him time. He hadn’t mentioned Aspen. She hadn’t seen her either. Was it possible their romance had burned out and died? Was there still space for Merit to step back into the picture?
Her phone vibrated on the couch beside her, jolting her out of her spiraling thoughts. Weston’s name flashed on the screen. A small thrill started inside her. It had been weeks since she’d heard his voice. Her pulse quickened. For a moment, she simply stared at it. Should she answer? Should she let it go to voicemail and pretend she hadn’t seen it? She swallowed and pressed accept.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Merit. I received your letter.”
“Okay,” she said softly.
“Merit,” he continued, “I think we should talk. You shouldn’t have to do this alone.”
Her breath caught. “You’re not… mad that I’m pregnant?”
Weston chuckled gently. “Of course not. I didn’t expect any more children in my life, but surprises are not always unfortunate. I choose to see this as a blessing.”
Her heart warmed instantly at the word blessing. She hadn’t realized how badly she needed to hear someone say that.
“It is a blessing,” she whispered.
“I’ll send a car to collect you. I have a property that’s very private. Peaceful. We can spend some time there. It’s the perfect place to raise a child. You’ll want for nothing, Merit. I’ll give you everything you need.”
The idea bloomed in her mind like something long-awaited finally unfolding. Security. Stability. A name. A father who acknowledged the child. It was more than Axl had offered.
At least her baby would know his father. And with North eventually taking over the business, things would be different by the time her child was grown. The future could still be salvaged.
“Okay,” she said quietly.
“I’ll see you soon.”
She ended the call and sat very still for several seconds, then suddenly she was moving. Packing. Folding clothes. Choosing dresses that still fit around her growing stomach. Weston texted her again—only pack your clothes. You won’t need anything else.
She emailed her landlord, informing him she was moving out immediately and that he could keep the deposit. She didn’t care about the money. She just wanted out.
Hours later, she sat in the back of a large black SUV. The privacy barrier separated her from the driver. When she knocked lightly on it, it lowered just enough for him to hear her. He never spoke unless necessary. He stopped for gas. Bought her snacks. Escorted her to the restroom without a word.
They drove for nearly twenty-four hours.
By the time the vehicle finally slowed, the world outside had changed. No city skyline. No crowded streets. Just long stretches of open land and towering trees. The car stopped and her door was opened from the outside. Weston stood there, smiling. She couldn’t help but smile back.
“I trust Paul took good care of you?” he asked smoothly.
“Yes, he did,” Merit replied.
He helped her out of the SUV, one hand steady at her elbow. The air was crisp and clean. The house behind him was massive, set far back from the road, framed by acres of land. She glanced over her shoulder as Paul unloaded her luggage.
Her hand drifted to the small bump beneath her sweater. For the first time in months, she felt something close to happiness. Inside, the house was warm and beautifully decorated. Rich wood floors. Large windows. Soft lighting. It felt private. Safe.
“After lunch, I’ll show you around the property,” Weston said, guiding her toward the kitchen island.
“This is beautiful,” she murmured.
“And now it’s your home,” he replied easily. “I’ll be here for the weekend. Business calls me back to the city after that, but I’ll return every weekend. There’s a smaller SUV in the garage for you. I’ll supply you with a credit card. No staff for now—privacy is important—but we can adjust that closer to your due date. In the meantime, you can choose a room for the nursery.”
They ate lunch together, making small talk. He asked about her symptoms. Her doctor visits. Whether she’d been sleeping. She helped him clear the table. When he took her hand to lead her through the rest of the house, she didn’t resist.
Outside, he showed her the barn. “There’s more,” he said with a faint smile. He lifted a concealed wooden panel inside the barn, revealing stairs descending into darkness. Curiosity flickered through her. It was cool and damp as they descended. Weston illuminated the space with his phone. At the bottom, he opened another heavy wooden door.
“Go on,” he encouraged softly.
She stepped inside. It looked like a bedroom. Simple. Sparse. A bed. A small dresser. She turned as the door shut behind her. “Weston?”
There was a narrow rectangular opening in the door. Weston’s face appeared there, smiling. “Did you really think I’d have you wandering freely where you could ruin my reputation with an illegitimate child?” he asked calmly. “You really are naïve, Merit.”
Her blood ran cold. “You can’t do this!” she shouted, rushing to the door. “You can’t keep me here!”
“I can do whatever I want,” Weston replied. “No one is going to miss you. You’re alone. You should have stayed away like I told you.”
The opening slid shut with a metallic clank. “Weston!” she screamed, pounding on the door. “Weston!” Silence swallowed her voice. The lighting was dim. On the nightstand sat two bottles of water. That was all. Her knees buckled and she sank onto the edge of the bed, tears spilling freely.
He was wrong. Axl would look for her. He knew about the baby. He knew about the letter. At some point, Axl would realize she was missing. And when he did—he would come.