Chapter Twenty-Two: Betrayal, Blood, and Broken Trust

"She's going to hate me for this," Noah said, his voice shaking as he glanced at the unconscious woman on the bed. His hands trembled as he held the keys, clearly struggling with what he was about to do.

His mother, Missus Smith, stood by the doorway with a cold expression on her face. Her voice was stern, yet oddly calm.

"Noah, listen to me. Are you still a man?" she asked, as if trying to provoke him.

"Keep her locked up for a while, and when she's pregnant, she will agree naturally."

Noah looked down, lost in thought, but his mother wasn't done.

"And when she is part of the Smith's family, you can make it up to her," she added smoothly, like it was just another business deal.

"And she will see how sincere you are," she went on, convincing herself more than him. "And forgive you eventually."

Noah opened his mouth to speak, but his mother cut him off like she didn't want to hear anything different.