Chapter 18 A… Child.
~Walter.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, taking a step closer to him.
It sounded like a threat.
It was.
Mason walked past me, his shoulder brushing mine ever so slightly. I caught his wrist.
“Whatever it is you plan to do,” I said lowly, “make sure you keep it between me and you. One step toward Haven, and I’ll take your life with my own hands.”
I let him go and walked out of the kitchen before he could respond.
My head was filled with questions as I returned to the room—trying to piece together what Mason meant. What he wanted. What stupid game he thought he was playing.
I lay beside Hannah on the bed.
“Where have you been?” she asked, yawning.
“I was thirsty,” I replied, turning away from her.
“You’ve changed,” she said suddenly.
Fuck.
I barely had time for her anymore.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Haven—and Hannah was starting to notice.
“I’m tired,” I murmured. “Work’s been a lot. I’m sorry.”
I kissed her forehead and closed my eyes, forcing sleep to come.
……
Morning arrived with a pounding headache.
I groaned, rubbing my temples as I sat up. Hannah wasn’t beside me.
I sighed.
At least I didn’t have to wake up to that face.
I stepped out of the room, my thoughts immediately drifting to Haven.
Don’t blame me—I barely slept. I’d been worried sick, wondering if she was still crying.
I walked downstairs and spotted Mason at a distance. I ignored him, heading straight toward Haven’s room to check if she was inside.
“That’s the way to Haven’s room,” Hannah’s voice sounded behind me.
Yes. I know.
It’s my house.
I turned to face her.
She could barely move, yet she was good at sneaking up on people.
Typical Hannah.
Toxic in her own way.
“I know,” I said calmly. “Your father asked me to keep an eye on her, remember? Where is she?”
Hannah sighed, clearly uninterested.
“She left early this morning. I didn’t bother asking where she was going.”
“This early?” I asked before I could stop myself. Concern slipped into my voice, and I quickly tried to rein it in. “I mean… isn’t that too early?”
“It’s not,” she snapped. “Quit asking questions about Haven and come downstairs as soon as you can.”
She paused.
“Your father and I spoke this morning,” she added. “He’s coming over.”
“Why?” I asked, brows creased. Dad barely visited… I didn’t like him prying into my business, and he respected that. It was what I got in return for being “obedient.”
“I don’t know,” she said weakly before walking away.
I walked into the living room, and almost at the same time, Dad walked through the door, his cologne hitting my nose hard.
I lowered my head, eyes fixed on his shiny pair of shoes.
“What brings you here?” I asked.
Dad chuckled. He sucked his teeth before taking a seat. “Good morning to you too, Walter.”
Oh. I forgot.
“Good morning, Father.”
He sighed. “I don’t have time to waste either, so I’ll go straight to the point. Your wife, Hannah—she called,” Dad said.
I should have known.
“She said you’ve changed since she arrived. You don’t talk to her like you used to. You barely look at her, and sometimes you even raise your voice at her,” he said, a frown masking his face.
I cleared my throat.
Even though I knew the actual reason… “I’m sorry. I already told her. It’s work. I’m tired,” I lied through my teeth.
The irritation I felt for Hannah was already slipping through the cracks. What irritated me more was how Dad showed up—to “keep me in place.”
“Work,” he repeated before leaning in. His voice dropped to a whisper. “Making your wife sad means getting on Mr. Sutherland’s bad side. And you know what that means, Walter, don’t you?”
I nodded.
Why wouldn’t I?
Everything you’ve taken from them will have to be returned. You’re greedy enough not to want that to happen.
“You’ve been a good boy up till now. You don’t want to ruin it,” he said, tapping my shoulder.
“I won’t.”
Dad sighed. He dipped his hand into his briefcase and handed me a bottle of wine. “For you and Hannah. I had it made… especially for both of you,” he laughed.
I was forced to laugh too.
It wasn’t funny.
“Is there anything else, Dad?” I asked, noticing the way he still sat. Dad wasn’t the type to waste time.
“That,” he said. “You and Hannah. What are your plans about having children?”
My heart slammed against my chest… I had never thought about it. Not once.
“You’ve been married for quite a while. And I understand—Hannah’s sick. But you should have plans, shouldn’t you?”
“I’ll talk to Hannah about it and get back to you,” I answered, bowing once more.
Dad didn’t say anything else.
He left.
I understood what that meant. I wasn’t allowed to slack—
not about how I treated Hannah, and not about having an heir.
……..
Hannah lay on the bed, facing the other side as I joined her.
I gently wrapped my arms around her, letting her sink into me.
How long do I have to keep this up?
I wanted Haven… not this.
“My father said something when he came around,” I started.
“Things I should know about?” Hannah asked.
“Hm.”
“What?” She turned to look at me.
“A child. He talked about having a child,” I said.
For some reason, Hannah and I had never talked about having a child—like there was no need to. From the very beginning, we’d always used condoms, and she never argued. I never bothered to ask why.
“I’m sick,” she said quietly, looking at herself. “Look at me. Can I carry a child?”
I refused to answer.
“We’ve never talked about this, and I think we should keep it that way,” she said, almost like a warning.
“But my father… he—”
“Walter,” she called. “Even after I recover, I don’t think I’ll be ready. You understand, don’t you? Sleep tight. I love you,” she said.