Chapter 185

“Not yet, but she’s scheduled it. Let me check the time,” Lena said, pausing. “It’s set for eleven.”

I glanced at the clock. It was already ten.

“Did she say why?” I asked.

“Nope, just said she didn’t want it anymore. She signed the papers herself. The fetus is over three months along, so it’s not a quick procedure—it’s a termination,” Lena explained.

Even though I’ve never been a mother, hearing that made my chest tighten. “Stall it for now. I’ll reach out to Jace.”

“You sure you want to get involved?” Lena asked.

I hesitated. “I saw her yesterday, and now she’s doing this. If I don’t tell Jace, he’ll never forgive me. And besides…” This baby was the last piece of Desmond’s bloodline.

I hung up and immediately called Jace. He didn’t answer at first. Unsurprisingly, considering I’d recently distanced myself. I figured he wouldn’t want to talk.

Just as I was about to hang up and try a different number, he answered, his voice icy. “Yes?”

“Tanya’s getting an abortion. She’s at Lena’s hospital,” I said bluntly.

“What?” His voice shook.

“The procedure’s in an hour. You can still make it if you go now,” I said, then hung up before he could respond.

Even after telling him, something felt wrong. So, I went to the hospital. Pulling into the lot, I saw Jace sprinting from his car toward the maternity ward, looking panicked.

I rushed over, but before I reached the ward, Lena grabbed my arm. “Did he stop it?” I asked.

Lena pulled me aside, her expression serious. “There’s some drama. You’ll want to hear this.”

She led me to the stairwell. From there, we overheard Tanya and Jace arguing heatedly.

“Why are you getting rid of the baby? This is Desmond’s only bloodline left. Who said you could do this?” Jace’s voice was low, almost a growl.

“Why?” Tanya retorted sharply, her voice a far cry from its usual sweetness. “Because I want to be with you.”

A heavy silence followed. Jace remained silent.

Tanya’s voice softened. “Jace, if I keep this baby, your family will never accept me. Desmond’s parents don’t want it either. So why should I?”

“But if you go through with it, Desmond’s bloodline is gone,” Jace said, his voice shaking.

“And if I keep the baby, I can’t be with you. What do you want me to do?” Tanya asked.

In that moment, the selfishness of people, always prioritizing themselves, hit me hard.

“If you get rid of the baby, does that mean we’ll be together?” Jace asked.

Through the cracked stairwell door, I saw Tanya reach for Jace’s sleeve, but he pulled away. “Tanya, you know who I really want.”

“But you and Keira are over,” Tanya said, her voice cracking, tears welling.

“Keira and I might be done, but that doesn’t mean there’s a future for us either.” Jace’s words struck Tanya hard. Her face crumbled.

Her lips trembled as she whispered, “If you don’t want me, then what am I supposed to do?”

“Tanya, I’ve told you—I’ll make sure you’re taken care of, financially and all that. But I can’t give you—” Jace began, but Tanya interrupted.

Shaking her head, she said, “What about a man? I need someone who loves me, someone to hold me at night. Are you gonna give me that too?”

Jace stiffened, remaining silent.

“Jace, if you hadn’t kissed me, Desmond wouldn’t have seen, and he wouldn’t have driven off and crashed. Now, I’m left with nothing. No Desmond, no support, nothing. You ruined my happiness, so you’re the one who has to fix it.”

I froze, completely shocked. So… Desmond’s death was because of Jace. That was why he’d been looking after her all this time.