Chapter\u00a0479<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0Alex finally\u00a0asked\u00a0after\u00a0a long\u00a0while\u00a0of\u00a0silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0call\u00a0my\u00a0father,\u201d\u00a0Irene said,\u00a0still\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0daze.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0grabbed\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0and\u00a0swiped\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0screen\u00a0until\u00a0she\u00a0got\u00a0to\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0contact\u00a0number.\u00a0Then\u00a0she\u00a0pressed\u00a0the call\u00a0button,\u00a0her\u00a0breathing\u00a0shaky.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0hoping\u00a0that\u00a0her\u00a0tone\u00a0doesn\u2019t sound\u00a0as\u00a0frantic\u00a0as\u00a0her\u00a0mind.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0stared\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0small\u00a0baby,\u00a0still\u00a0in\u00a0the carrier\u00a0and\u00a0wrapped\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0pink\u00a0blanket.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0so\u00a0tiny;\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0clear\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0born\u00a0early.<\/p>\n
Irene\u2019s\u00a0heart\u00a0tugged\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0sight\u00a0of\u00a0her,\u00a0knowing\u00a0that she\u00a0was\u00a0Ethan\u2019s\u00a0baby,\u00a0made\u00a0it\u00a0difficult,\u00a0but\u00a0this\u00a0baby\u00a0was\u00a0innocent\u00a0and\u00a0adorable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0time,\u00a0Irene,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0cut\u00a0through\u00a0her\u00a0inner\u00a0monologue.<\/p>\n
Irene\u00a0winced\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0harshness of\u00a0his tone,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0be quick\u00a0or\u00a0else\u00a0he would\u00a0hang\u00a0up\u00a0on\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0an\u00a0emergency,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0went on\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0single\u00a0breath.\u00a0\u201cEthan\u2019s baby\u00a0is\u00a0here,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0what\u00a0to\u00a0do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tears broke\u00a0free\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0stop\u00a0them.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0could\u00a0feel\u00a0Alex stiffening\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0listened\u00a0to\u00a0the phone conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0talking about?\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0still harsh,\u00a0but\u00a0had\u00a0lost\u00a0some\u00a0of\u00a0its\u00a0depth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0mean,\u00a0there\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0baby\u00a0in the\u00a0villa\u00a0right\u00a0now with\u00a0a\u00a0note from Ethan\u2019s\u00a0mistress\u00a0saying\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0give\u00a0the\u00a0baby\u00a0a good\u00a0life\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0she\u2019s worried\u00a0Ethan will\u00a0find\u00a0out\u00a0about\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u00a0knows\u00a0I\u00a0come\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0family and\u00a0wants\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0raise\u00a0this\u00a0baby\u2026\u00a0Dad,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0so\u00a0confused.\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t know\u00a0what\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0do.\u00a0There\u2019s a\u00a0literal\u00a0baby\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0parlor\u00a0right\u00a0now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0voice\u00a0cracked\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0last\u00a0sentence,\u00a0her entire\u00a0body\u00a0trembling\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0suppressed the\u00a0sobs\u00a0that\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0consume\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
There\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0stretch\u00a0of\u00a0silence\u00a0at the other\u00a0end\u00a0as\u00a0Gavin\u00a0processed\u00a0her\u00a0words.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn\u00a0my\u00a0way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0line\u00a0went\u00a0dead\u00a0after\u00a0that,\u00a0and\u00a0Irene couldn\u2019t keep\u00a0it\u00a0in\u00a0anymore;\u00a0she\u00a0sat\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0couch as\u00a0a\u00a0sob\u00a0escaped\u00a0her\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0this\u00a0really\u00a0Ethan Cash\u2019s\u00a0baby?\u201d\u00a0Alex\u00a0asked,\u00a0watching\u00a0Irene\u00a0warily\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0cried awkwardly\u00a0in front of him.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0nodded,\u00a0wiping\u00a0her\u00a0flushed\u00a0and wet\u00a0cheeks with\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0hand.<\/p>\n
Alex\u00a0shifted\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0spot,\u00a0feeling\u00a0the\u00a0tension\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0air.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0left\u00a0next\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0carrier,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0her,\u00a0lifting\u00a0a\u00a0backpack\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0air\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0see.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0filled\u00a0with diapers,\u00a0wipes,\u00a0baby\u00a0formula,\u00a0a\u00a0bottle,\u00a0and\u00a0some\u00a0extra\u00a0clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n
a<\/p>\n
\u201c1\u00a0<\/p>\n
Irene\u00a0could\u00a0barely\u00a0listen\u00a0to what\u00a0he\u00a0was saying,\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0numb\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0remained\u00a0on the\u00a0couch,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0glued\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0baby.\u00a0Alex\u00a0awkwardly\u00a0placed\u00a0the\u00a0bag\u00a0next\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0couch\u00a0and\u00a0then cleared\u00a0his throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0leave\u00a0you\u00a0alone\u00a0now,\u201d\u00a0Alex\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0walked\u00a0towards the door.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0keep\u00a0a\u00a0lookout\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Alpha.\u201d<\/p>\n
Irene\u00a0slowly\u00a0nodded\u00a0as\u00a0more\u00a0tears\u00a0fell\u00a0down\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks.\u00a0Once\u00a0Irene\u00a0was\u00a0alone,\u00a0she\u00a0let\u00a0herself\u00a0break\u00a0down\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0minutes.\u00a0She\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0to\u00a0stop\u00a0the tears.\u00a0But once\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0her\u00a0share\u00a0of\u00a0crying\u00a0and\u00a0was\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0calm herself down,\u00a0she looked\u00a0down at\u00a0the\u00a0baby\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0starting\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0fussy.\u00a0Her\u00a0heart started\u00a0to\u00a0beat\u00a0faster;\u00a0she\u00a0blinked\u00a0away\u00a0the\u00a0remaining\u00a0tears\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0and\u00a0scooped the small bundle\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey\u2026\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0whispered.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0okay\u2026\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0cry.\u201d<\/p>\n
She rocked\u00a0the baby gently\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0arms,\u00a0surprised\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0subside\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0crying.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0it,\u00a0baby\u00a0girl,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said,\u00a0her\u00a0heart\u00a0melting\u00a0a\u00a0little.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0then,\u00a0she\u00a0heard\u00a0someone\u00a0enter\u00a0the\u00a0parlor.\u00a0She\u00a0lifted her\u00a0gaze\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0her\u00a0father\u2019s\u00a0stunned\u00a0face,\u00a0beside\u00a0him\u00a0stood\u00a0Judy\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0equally stunned\u00a0if\u00a0not\u00a0Moreso.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0that\u00a0a\u00a0baby?\u201d\u00a0Judy asked,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0small\u00a0bundle\u00a0in\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0arms.<\/p>\n
Irene bit\u00a0her lower\u00a0lip.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0replied.\u00a0\u201cThis\u00a0is\u00a0Emalyn\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEmalyn?\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cShe\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0name?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording\u00a0to\u00a0this\u00a0letter,\u00a0yes,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said,\u00a0holding\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0letter\u00a0for Gavin to\u00a0take.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0took\u00a0the letter\u00a0and\u00a0read\u00a0it with\u00a0a\u00a0deep\u00a0frown.\u00a0Once\u00a0he\u00a0finished,\u00a0he\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0deep sigh.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0true\u2026\u201d\u00a0he murmured. \u201cShe expects\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0raise\u00a0this baby?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0seems\u00a0so,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said,\u00a0rocking the\u00a0baby\u00a0in\u00a0her arms again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose\u00a0baby is that?\u201d\u00a0Judy\u00a0finally\u00a0asked,\u00a0her voice\u00a0loud and\u00a0confused\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0stared\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0baby\u00a0to\u00a0Irene,\u00a0and then finally\u00a0to Gavin.<\/p>\n
After a\u00a0beat\u00a0of\u00a0silence,\u00a0he\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0his\u00a0expression\u00a0softened,\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0gentle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0Ethan\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 479 Chapter\u00a0479 \u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0Alex finally\u00a0asked\u00a0after\u00a0a long\u00a0while\u00a0of\u00a0silence. \u201cI\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0call\u00a0my\u00a0father,\u201d\u00a0Irene said,\u00a0still\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0daze. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21547\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}