56

Suddenly, Suzanne felt a terrible dizziness and had to sit down, trying to calm the nausea that seized her stomach.

Nathan looked her up and down without saying anything, only furrowing his brow, which made Suzanne uncomfortable. She didn't want to believe that he was genuinely concerned about her.

"No matter what I do, our relationship will never be the same again," she thought.

The nausea hit her even stronger, and she had to rush to the nearest bathroom. It didn't seem to stop.

She opened the door and didn't bother to close it; there was no time for that. Someone held her hair back while whispering soft words into her ear.

When it was over, he helped her to stand but didn't let go. His arm held her firmly around the waist but gently, mindful of her swollen belly.

"How is it possible that you're at least four months pregnant and your belly is that size?" Nathan asked with curiosity, leaving her frozen.

"I can't tell him. My God, save me, he can't know I'm carrying twins," she pleaded silently.

Silence was her only company as he lifted her into his arms and sat her on the edge of the sink counter. He took care of everything while she watched, taking the toothbrush and a glass of water.

"What was all that?" Suzanne thought, perplexed, seeing how tender and understanding he had been just minutes after being a merciless monster.

"You're a good actor," she whispered before starting to brush her teeth.

She had little strength left to protest; every time she finished expelling everything, she felt weak.

He took her to her room, laid her down on her bed, and sat beside her. Suzanne didn't look better; her thinness worried him, it couldn't be normal.

Nathan felt deeply concerned and hated himself for everything he was putting her through.

"So what have you decided?" he asked.

She didn't answer, just looked to her right side, and he followed her gaze: there was her suitcase.

"You've made the best decision," he remarked.

She wasn't so sure about that; she just hoped he would keep his word and not harm her baby.

Suzanne's father was concerned as he saw his daughter's pallid face, unable to understand how she had agreed to go with him.

"Are you sure, Suzie?" he asked quietly, looking behind her as he took her shoulders and drew her closer to him. "You don't look very convinced."

She opened her mouth to protest, but a familiar voice made her heart race a thousand times over.

"What do you think you're trying to do, Nathan?" the old Jarek looked at his grandson sternly, positioning himself close to Suzanne. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that, Jarek," Nathan said through clenched teeth, knowing his grandfather had arrived to thwart his plans. "I'm taking my wife, that's all."

"Don't be ridiculous," the old man argued dryly. "I'm going to annul that marriage as soon as possible, so Suzanne will be free of you."

Nathan felt the air stuck in his throat. How could he say something like that so calmly?

"You old bastard," he hissed under his breath. "I won't let you do whatever you want with my wife and child, she's not like my mother."

"Shut up and don't you dare mention her!" Jarek snapped, his face red with anger.

"Suzanne, come with me," Nathan extended his hand.

He looked at Suzanne with determination, determined to take her with him despite his grandfather Jarek's sudden intervention. But the old man, with firm and disdainful voice, cut his intentions short.

"You're not going to come here as if nothing to take Suzanne away, I won't allow it," Jarek declared, his eyes narrowed at Nathan.

Suzanne's father, witnessing the scene with mixed feelings, couldn't help but feel both relieved and worried.

"It's my wife!" Nathan exclaimed angrily. "She'll come with me, she carries my child in her womb."

Jarek didn't hesitate to remind Nathan of his past actions.

"Your child? The same one you asked her to abort and said you would take out yourself if she didn't?" the old man said, striking with words that resonated deeply with Nathan.

Nathan felt struck by the memory.

"That was a mistake..." he murmured, ashamed.

"An error is tripping over a stone and falling," Jarek interrupted with a harsh voice. "Yours was a selfish desire at the expense of Suzanne's and my happiness. I won't forgive you for that, Nathan, no matter if you're my grandson."

Nathan's anger surged.

"Don't play innocent, grandfather. You're a bad man," he accused.

Suzanne, noticeably pale, intervened bitterly.

"Protect us? You wanted to kill my baby, Nathan," she said, her voice trembling.

Nathan hurried to apologize.

"I regret that, I don't want that. I want to fight for you and our child."

Suzanne, with a joyless laugh, responded harshly.

"You speak as if ours was a real marriage. Now suddenly you're going to fight for us, when you always reminded me this had an expiration date? Don't be hypocritical, Nathan."

With Jarek present, Suzanne felt a relief that reaffirmed her decision. She wouldn't allow Nathan to hurt her again, especially after his earlier threats.

Nathan felt a lump in his throat as he saw tears in Suzanne's eyes. The weight of his past words and actions seized him, filling him with deep sorrow and regret.

"Suzie, I'm so sorry," he murmured with a choked voice. "I didn't want to hurt you. I never wanted to..."

But before he could finish, Jarek intervened decisively.

"Come on, Suzanne," he said softly, extending his hand. To Nathan's surprise, Suzanne took her grandfather's hand with a resigned look.

Nathan watched helplessly as Suzanne walked away with Jarek. The world seemed to crumble beneath his feet. He had lost not only Suzanne but also the chance to be a father to his child.

The weight of his mistakes became almost unbearable.

"Wait!" Nathan shouted, reaching out towards Suzanne, but she pulled away.

Their eyes briefly met, and in that moment, Nathan saw a mix of pain and disappointment in Suzanne's eyes. He knew he had shattered something irreparable between them.

Jarek looked at Nathan sternly. "You have much to learn, Nathan," he said calmly before walking away with Suzanne.

Nathan stood there, alone and defeated. He fell to his knees, feeling the weight of his selfish decisions and words crushing him.

In that moment, he understood the magnitude of his mistake and how he had lost the most important thing in his life.