Chapter 4
Felice had not known Anwen learned about the move.
That frightened her.
Good.
“How?”
Anwen explained.
Theo’s regular caretaker, Mrs. Alder, called before breakfast.
Not to warn her.
To ask why Theo suddenly needed enough clothing for several weeks.
Felice had ordered the child transferred from Cedar House to another Bellamy property after the engagement dinner.
Destination withheld.
Anwen confronted Felice in the service corridor.
Felice took her pay envelope.
Then told her:
Smile tonight.
Cause no scene.
Ask no questions.
Or you never see him again.
The champagne by the pool had been punishment for Anwen staring at me too long.
I looked at Felice.
“You planned to move my son tonight.”
“After.”
“Where?”
She said nothing.
I nodded once to Rafe.
He left.
Felice laughed.
“You think your men know every Bellamy house?”
“No.”
I looked at her.
“But your driver does.”
Her expression changed.
Exactly.
Within twenty minutes we had a location.
Not a Bellamy mansion.
A small cottage on the edge of their old equestrian property.
Private.
Quiet.
Four hours away.
Theo was already on the road.
I stood.
Anwen did too.
“I’m coming.”
“Yes.”
Felice stepped toward me.
“Duncan, listen to me.”
I looked at her engagement ring.
Then her face.
“For eight months, you controlled information about my child.”
“I protected our future.”
“No.”
My voice stayed calm.
“You protected the version of our future where nobody could make me reconsider marrying you.”
Her eyes filled.
“You love me.”
“I did.”
She flinched.
Past tense reaches people quickly.
I removed nothing from her hand.
The ring could stay there until she understood it had become jewelry again.
I told the bodyguards:
“Felice remains here.”
Her head snapped up.
“You’re imprisoning me?”
“No.”
“You’re no longer coming with us.”
Different.
For a woman who had spent months deciding where everyone else was allowed to go, exclusion landed hard.
Then Anwen said:
“Duncan.”
I turned.
It was the first time she had used my name that night.
“What?”
Her voice shook.
“What if he doesn’t know me anymore?”
Eight months old.
Three days away.
Still, fear is not logical.
I held her gaze.
May you like
“Then you remind him.”
And we went to bring our son home.
