Free Web NovelChapter 46: Chapter 46
Nathan’s POV
From the shadowed apartment building across the marketplace, I watched them. My eyes were cold, narrowing as I tracked their every move, each step they took.
I wasn’t sure what drove me to stay hidden, maybe it was the fear that seeing them together would spark something in me that I wouldn’t be able to control. Or maybe I just needed to see it with my own eyes, to know how far whatever they had had progressed.
But as I watched, my emotions churned violently inside me. It was like a beast, caged and restless, clawing at the edges of my restraint. I could feel my wolf, itching to be free within me, desperate to claim what was mine.
I barely held it back.
The thought of marching down there, pulling her away from Peter, gnawed at me. She’s mine, I reminded myself. She’s my wife. The words were like a mantra, but even as I whispered them in my head, I could feel my control slipping.
My gaze slid to Peter, his youthful figure too close to her, too comfortable. A dangerous glint flashed in my eyes.
The way he was so unaware, so easy with her. He had no idea what was at stake here. freewebnøvel.com
I got down from the vehicle, wearing a cap for disguise. That was not the only thing I wore. Aria wasnt the only one who uses scent blockers now, I did too. I got a bit closer to them but stayed hidden in the shadows.
From where I stood, I could see Peter, busy picking out vegetables, hauling a couple of heavy bags full of greens and fish. He was just another man playing pretend.
Then the vendor called out, his voice rising above the noise of the market, a sharp contrast to my simmering anger. "Rattles, five bucks each!" He waved a bright red rattle with a flourish, clearly hoping for a sale.
The baby’s eyes lit up, her tiny hands reaching eagerly for the rattle. I felt something twist in my chest, but I didn’t move. The sight of her reaching for it was too innocent and pure.
The vendor, catching her interest, grinned widely. "Your baby loves it, madam! Get her one!"
Aria hesitated, but Peter, ever eager to please, had already reached for his wallet. The vendor’s grin widened as he pulled out a sealed rattle, clearly thrilled by the transaction that was about to happen.
Just then, Aria took out her phone from her pocket. It must have buzzed. I could see the shift in her, the way her body went rigid as she stared at the screen. What message did she get that made her react in that manner?
The child didn’t notice the shift in her mother’s expression. Instead, she kept reaching for the rattle that the vendor still held, her little fingers grasping at the air.
"Sorry!" Aria said, cradling the baby to her chest and leaning toward Peter, her eyes pleading with him. "Can you take us back?"
Peter nodded without hesitation, forgetting to buy the rattle the baby wanted. But Lana, even as they hurried away, kept glancing back longingly at the rattle.
The vendor let out a sigh and was about to tuck the toy back into his bag. I could feel the frustration rippling off him as he gave one last look at the retreating figures.
That’s when I stepped forward.
"That one in your hand, I’ll take it," I said, my voice clipped.
The vendor blinked, confused, then looked me over, but he didn’t dare argue. "Huh? I’ve got more in the bag, all brand new..."
"No. I want that one," I snapped, pointing at the exact one the child wanted.
He handed it to me, his eyes wary, but he said nothing else.
Moments later, I was back in my attic apartment, leaning against the window, the rattle in my hand. My fingers were tight around it, almost too tight. I shook it gently, hearing the soft rattle, but my mind was somewhere else entirely.
I felt numb, distant. What the hell was I doing? Why had I gotten an apartment opposite Peter’s house? Why had I bought this silly toy just because the child wanted it?
The anger, the jealousy and need had pushed me to it. But now, holding this rattle in my hands, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had lost my mind. freeweɓnøvel.com
I caught a glimpse of them outside, for a fleeting moment, and I couldn’t look away. I saw Aria laughing at something Peter had said, her eyes shimmering. Her gaze rested on him, warm and tender, and for a second, the world outside seemed to disappear.
Lana, nestled in her arms, blinked up at Peter with that same innocent curiosity. They stood together, Aria, Peter, and the baby, looking like a family.
It hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath quickened, and my chest tightened as I watched them, unable to look away.
Aria’s laughter, the way she looked at Peter, the way the baby seemed to bond with him so easily, it all felt wrong. But the thing that hit me hardest was the baby.
Her soft, innocent features tugged at something deep inside me, but I couldn’t trust my instincts. Her features are still soft and unformed, I reminded myself. That’s not a reliable measure that she was my child.
For a split second, the doubt gnawed at me. She could be mine. But then, the rational part of me kicked in. It wasn’t like I had been with Aria for long enough to really know if it was possible. We’d crossed that line only once, the night before she was locked away. What were the odds that one fleeting, desperate night had resulted in this?
The thought twisted in my gut. Could it be?
But then I remembered her time in prison. If she had been carrying my child, surely she would have fought for me, for us. She would have pleaded with me from behind those bars, begged me to get her out, for the sake of the baby. She would have reached out, but she hadn’t.
That realization hit harder than I wanted to admit. She didn’t ask for help. She didn’t try to tell me. That left me with more questions than answers. And the biggest one of all—if the child wasn’t mine, then whose the hell was it?
The thought of Richard sent a surge of rage through me, hot and sharp. Could it be his? That bastard. The man who had no claim to her anymore. He’d been in her life before.
I clenched my fist tightly, feeling the rattle I’d grabbed earlier digging into my pocket, cold and unfamiliar against my palm. This stupid toy. It didn’t matter, nothing mattered except the truth.
I turned toward Collins, my voice low, cutting through the air like a knife. "Find out who called her. And dig into whose child she’s holding."
There was no hesitation in my tone. I needed answers. I needed to know everything.
With a swift tug, I yanked the curtain shut, cutting off the view of that infuriating man below.
