Chapter 3

02

Killian returned the next morning.

Behind him were his men and a red-eyed, weeping Isla.

The moment she saw me, Isla collapsed to her knees, crying like a victim.

"Saffron, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have sent you that message."

"Killian said the baby can only stay if you give your permission!"

"I'm begging you, please let me keep this child!"

She started banging her head against the hardwood floor.

Blood began to trickle down her forehead almost immediately.

Killian looked down at her, his eyes full of suppressed agony.

But to get my approval, he forced himself not to move.

His brothers couldn't take it and pulled Isla up.

One of them, who always disliked Killian's devotion to me, spoke up.

"Sister-in-law, even if you're unhappy, we have to be fair."

"Isla took a bullet for the Boss. For that alone, she deserves to keep the kid."

"Besides, you're broken and can't have kids anyway. The Boss should give Isla and the baby a proper place in this family!"

Killian let out a sharp roar. "Shut up!"

"I said Saffron is my only wife. As for Isla, I'll find a way to make it up to her!"

He showed me the fresh scars on his arm and knelt before me, begging.

"Saffron, I've already bled for my sins. She can't bear to lose the baby. Please, have mercy on the child!"

"Since you're unable to conceive, I'll have the child call you Mother. You'll be its real mom."

My heart felt like it was being shredded by a dull blade.

I managed only one word. "Fine."

I only had six days left in this world anyway. Nothing mattered anymore.

Relief washed over Killian's face. He looked at Isla with a flash of joy.

I turned to walk to my room in silence, but Killian stopped me.

He wrapped a soft blanket around my shoulders and tucked a stray hair behind my ear.

"Why are you wearing so little? You'll catch a cold."

In that moment, he looked exactly like the man who used to worship me.

But his next words dropped me into an abyss.

"Saffron, Isla is pregnant and weak. Let's let her stay in the master bedroom for now."

I looked at him in total disbelief.

He wanted another woman to live in our wedding suite?

In the temperature-controlled room he had custom-built just for my comfort?

He looked away, unable to meet my eyes.

"Don't worry. As soon as the baby is born, I'll make her leave!"

I finally went completely numb. I looked down and whispered, "Fine."

Killian kissed my forehead. "Saffron, I knew you were the most understanding woman in the world."

He turned to Isla, rubbed her cold hands tenderly, and carried her into our bedroom.

I clenched my freezing fingertips, my whole body shivering.