53

Suzanne arrived with her father and broke down in tears like she did when she was a child. When she told him about her pregnancy, her father consoled her instead of reproaching her.

She told him part of the truth, omitting details about the contract, and spoke about the man she loved, who didn't want the baby.

In the cold and silent night, Suzanne cried, thinking of Nathan Strong, who had shattered her dreams and her heart.

She wondered if her pain would ever heal. She had thought about leaving without a note, but her grandfather convinced her to leave a letter explaining her feelings.

The door to her room opened, and her cousin, Mark, appeared before her.

He was staying at the house, under the care of his uncle Gabriel. When he saw Suzanne and learned that a man had left her devastated, he hated him.

"You've been crying again," he said as he sat on the side of the bed and dried her tears.

"It's nothing."

"It's because of him, isn't it? You have no idea how much I want to kill him," her cousin said, furious.

"Calm down, Mark, it doesn't matter anymore," she sighed. "Now all that matters to me is that my baby is okay."

"Alright, come on, dinner is ready."

"You go ahead, I'll be there in a moment."

With sorrow, she got up from the bed and went into the bathroom, where she washed her face, determined to move forward despite her broken heart. Crying did no good for her baby, and besides, it was useless to cry over a man like Nathan.

Dinner was lively thanks to her cousin, who did everything to make the atmosphere pleasant.

Suzanne ate with enthusiasm for the first time, even smiled genuinely, not like the other times when she faked it.

Her father watched her and noticed that his daughter was a bit more animated, though he feared she would never be the same. He wanted to know more about him, but he couldn't ask his daughter, as that would only make her remember painful moments.

He knew something more had happened, he just hoped that in time she would tell him.

When Suzanne retired to her room, she decided to call her friend.

She thought Dylan wouldn't recognize the number, as she had changed her old cell phone number.

On the second ring, he answered the phone.

"Dylan."

"Suzie, is that you, doll?"

"Hi."

"Is that all you say? Do you know how worried I've been about you? You don't answer your phone, there's no news from you, it's like you've disappeared off the map," her friend said, genuinely worried.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I couldn't stay there, I've returned to my homeland," she sighed.

"What happened?"

"I told Nathan about the pregnancy, and he asked me to have an abortion," she sobbed.

From the other end of the line came a torrent of curses directed at Nathan Strong.

“Darling, you know you can count on me, you don’t need that idiot,” he said with resentment. “Tell me where you are, and I promise I’ll get there as soon as possible.”

“Promise me you won’t tell him where I am.”

“I wouldn’t tell him even if he begged me on his knees,” he huffed.

“Then I’ll send you a message with the address.”

“I’ll be waiting for it. Now cheer up, think about that little one you’re carrying, how exciting, I’ll be an uncle!” Dylan said dramatically, and she smiled.

“I have to go, I promise to call you later.”

“Okay, doll. Now I’m more at ease knowing you’re safe, at home with your family.”

“Thanks, darling.”

“Goodbye, Suzie, take care of yourself and that little one.”

“I will, I’ll take care of my baby with all my strength. Goodbye.”

The phone call ended, and she prepared to sleep.

***

Nathan watched the rain fall through the large glass window; the city of London was enveloped in a gray aura as the sky poured down.

Jamie entered the office and found him there, with a distant look in his eyes.

Anyone who saw him would think he was looking at the cityscape, but Jamie knew he was thinking of her.

Now he didn’t regret what he had done; he only prayed to God that Dylan never found out or at least understood his actions.

“I know she’s out there somewhere,” Nathan said without looking at him.

“I have news,” Jamie’s words made him look at him.

“Do you know where she is?” he asked anxiously.

“She hasn’t left the United Kingdom; she’s in Northern Ireland.”

Nathan looked at him, confused.

“In Ireland? Are you sure?” he asked in disbelief.
“Yes, the last call Dylan received from her was from Ireland, though I don’t know the exact location.”

The smile on Nathan Strong’s lips was one that no one could erase. He would finally find her.

His body relaxed a bit, and his heart leapt with joy.

“So, what do you plan to do?” Jamie asked.

“Find her.”

“It won’t be easy, Ireland is large.”

“I don’t care, even if I have to search the entire damn country, I’ll find her,” he declared firmly.

“Good luck, brother,” Jamie wished him.

“I’ll find her, you’ll see.”

“I have no doubts about that, but you’ll need all the luck in the world when you do find her,” he said thoughtfully. “Have you thought about how she’ll react when she sees you?”

Nathan didn’t answer; of course he had thought about it a thousand times.

He knew it would be difficult, but he was determined to win her back, and when he wanted something, he got it at any cost.