Christopher took a deep breath, struggling to hold back his emotions as he spoke, “A month ago, I slept with herb. /bbI /bwas drunk, and I mistook her for you. But it didn’t go all the way. I woke up halfway through…”

    Rosalind didn’t want to dwell on the details of what had happened or how far things had gone.

    The truth was, he had slept with Latoya. And if Rosalind hadn’t found out, he would have continued seeing her.

    And to him, it was just him evening things out–one affair for another.

    Rosalind looked at him, frustration in her voice.“I don’t understand what you’re still holding

    b“/bIt’s you,” Christopher said, calming himself for a moment before continuing, “Rosab, /bjust give me some time, and I’ll make this right.”

    “How are you going to make it right? She’s pregnant. What can you do now?” Rosalind snapped.

    Christopher turned toward the door, his voice cold as ice.“Then we’ll get rid of it. My child has to be yours.”

    He stormed downstairs, and soon, the angry shouts of Tristan and Cornelia echoed through the house.

    When Rosalind arrived downstairs, she could tell Christopher had been beaten.

    He turned his face away, his left cheek marked with a clear handprint, and his gold–framed ssesy shattered bon /bthe floor.

    One of the ss arms waspletely snapped off, showing just how much force had been used.

    Seeing here down, Christopher said softly, “Rosa, just stay home for a few days. Give me three days, and I’ll take care of it.”

    “You’re going to kill your own child because of her?” Tristan bellowed.“What kind of magic has she cast on you? She’s a woman with a shady past, and yet you treat her like a treasure.”

    Christopher shouted back, “She is my treasure! Dad, I’m your son. You can say whatever you want about me, but Rosa hasn’t done anything to deserve your scorn. I know everything about her past. You don’t need to remind

    me.”

    “Ungrateful son! You have everything, yet you throw it away on this woman… What a disgrace!”

    Cornelia pped Christopher’s back repeatedly, but he didn’t flinch. He took the blowsi, /ihard and steady.

    Just then, the guest room door downstairs creaked open.

    Latoya stood there, pale–faced, with no makeup on, looking much weaker than usual.

    She held her stomach with one hand, biting bher /blip in a vulnerable gesture.“Cornelia, please, don’t hit C–bear… I’ll… I’ll get rid of the baby.”

    Cornelia rushed over, gently holding Latoya.“Silly girl, what are you saying? You’re carrying Christopher’s child. Who dares toy a finger on you?”

    “But C–bearb… /bno, I mean Mr. Foret is married. I didn’t know he was married bwhen /bI first met him. I thought he bwas /bsingle. That’s why I agreed to be with him. If I’d known he was balready /bbmarried/b, I never would’ve bgotten /b

    22.3%

     Chapter 25.

    involved with a married man.”

    “I know. Don’t get upset,” Cornelia soothed her. “You’re still early in your pregnancy, so take care. Don’t hurt the baby.”

    Latoya suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Rosalind. “Ms. Johansen, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know… I breally /bdidn’t know that he’s married.”

    Rosalind interrupted her, her voice icy, “Did you not know he was marriedb, /bor did you not know that I’m his wifeb?/bb” /bLatoya bit her lip.“I didn’t know either.”

    “You didn’t know? iThat /inight, when he brought you home, you saw my vanity table and my closet in the imaster /ibedroom. Are you blind? Didn’t you see them? And the bpajamas /byou were wearing and the slippers you had on–those were mine.”