CHAPTER 40: Father

Nala’s Point of View

“W-What are you saying?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Just like what I’ve said, I’ll help you escape, but you need to protect my grandchild in return, dear. I know that you are pregnant with Lionel’s child, and don’t try to deny it,” he said.

I avoided his gaze. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Hugo’s father. I couldn’t deny to him that I was pregnant, something I easily denied to Damian before. His presence was too cold and intimidating, and I didn’t know if I could believe and trust him.

When I looked at him, I remembered what Hugo had told me about him. I remembered the pain in Hugo’s eyes as he talked about his father. Thinking about those things hurts me deeply.

“I’m not an enemy, dear,” he said seriously when I didn’t respond. “I know you already know what Lionel and I are up to and how useless a father I am, but I want you to know that I love my son, and I thank you because you didn’t give up on him. You loved him in a way that I couldn’t as his father.”