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Aliana couldn't forget the happiness on Emmett's face when she first told him about her pregnancy. She had been certain that mentioning the baby would protect her. There was always a solution, she had reasoned. Once she had some leverage, she'd find a way to manipulate Emmett again.

But Emmett's response crushed her expectations. He remained motionless, as hard and inflexible as granite. The lack of warmth she had anticipated left Aliana paralyzed with fear.

"Only Athena deserves to bear my child!" Emmett's words were glacial, and he viciously kicked Aliana down with his foot.

Agony surged through Aliana's body, but it paled in comparison to the crushing despair engulfing her soul.

It was the end. As the finality of his statement sank in, she realized everything was gone.

"Get her to the hospital. I never want to lay eyes on her, or the illegitimate child she's carrying, again," Emmett commanded, his voice devoid of emotion.