Chapter 26
June’s POV
A loud noise in the kitchen jolted me awake from my sleep.
My heart pounded as I quickly sat up on the bed. For a moment, I thought I had imagined it, but I heard it again, and this time it was coming from the living room.
Was it Killian?
I took a small breath as I placed a hand over my racing heart. He must have returned late and was grabbing something to eat. However, my mind was still not at rest. As a sense of unease crawled up my spine. Something felt… wrong.
I slid out of bed and I grabbed my robe and wrapped it around me. The house was quiet–too quiet.
I gulped as I stepped out of the bedroom With my heart pounding crazily in my chest. Maybe I was being paranoid. Maybe it really was just Killian.
But if it wasn’t… I shook my head. I didn’t even want to think about that possibility.
I reached the living room entrance and I hesitated. My heart sped in my chest as I peeked inside.
And then–I froze.
Because Richard was sitting in the living room with a small smile on his face.
A smug grin spread across his lips as he stared at me.
“Missed me, sweetheart?”
I inhaled sharply as I stared at him. Richard sat comfortably on a couch in the living room. He crossed his legs casually like he owned the place.
I couldn’t move. My body froze in shock, as my mind screamed at me to run, to scream, to do something. But all I could do was stare.
How was he here?
How had he even gotten in?
He tilted his head, his smile widening, “I asked you a question, sweetheart. Did you miss me?”
I forced myself to speak. “What… what are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Richard sighed, shaking his head with an amused chuckle. “That’s not the response I was hoping for.” He stood up slowly, and my body tensed as he stepped closer to me.
“Richard, you shouldn’t be here,” I said, my mind racing as I tried to think of what I should do to escape, or let Killian know that Richard was here.
Richard scoffed. “Oh, come on, June. After everything, you really think I would just stay away? I had to see you.” He glanced down to my stomach, and his eyes softened. “And our baby.”
I inhaled sharply, furrowing my eyebrows at him. “What baby?” I asked.
He rolled his eyes at me. “Don’t try to deny it, I know. I saw the pregnancy report.” He replied.
My breath hitched.
1/3
66.7%
7:45 pm GDD D
He still thought I was pregnant,
“Richard…” I said with a sigh, stepping back as he took another step forward. “We need to talk.”
“I know,” he interrupted, nodding eagerly. “There’s so much to say. I–I was wrong, June. I should have been there. I should have protected you. I can’t believe you were carrying my child, and I didn’t even know.” His eyes were filled with excitement, and his voice shook.
I stared at him in disbelief. “Richard, listen to me-“
“I’m going to be a father,” he said with wide eyes. “This changes everything. We can fix this, I can fix this.”
“No, you can’t,” I whispered harshly, trying to get him to listen to me.
But he wasn’t listening.
“I don’t care about Killian. He can’t give you what I can. This is our family, June. We belong together.” He took another step, and I took another step back, clenching my fists.
He was getting more hysterical and frantic.
“Richard, stop!” I snapped, and he finally froze.
His brows furrowed slightly in confusion. “June?”
I placed my hands behind me to hide the fact that they were shaking. “The baby is gone.”
There was silence.
For a moment, his face didn’t change. It was as if the words hadn’t processed in his mind.
Then his smile faded slowly. “What?”
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I was done crying about all those things.
“I lost it,” I said firmly, “Because of you.”
He tensed. “No,” he whispered, shaking his head. “No, that’s not-”
“You pushed me, Richard,” I snapped with fury in my voice. “In the kitchen. That day. Do you remember? You slammed me against the counter so hard, and I-” My voice shook for a second before I paused to compose myself. “I miscarried because of you.”
His eyes were wide with horror, “That’s not true. You’re lying.”
“I’m not,” I spat. “You want to be a father? Well, congratulations. You destroyed your own child before they ever had a chance to live, just as you killed Ethan, your son.”
Richard snarled at my words. “Don’t you dare bring Ethan into this.”
I stood my ground. “Why not?” I spat. “You killed him.”
His eyes darkened. “I–1.”
Before he could respond, the front door opened, and Killian stood at the doorway with eyes as he glared at Richard.
In the blink of an eye, Richard pulled out a gun, and shot Killian.
“No!” I screamed in horror as Killian staggered back, falling to the ground.
My heart stopped. “Killian!”
rage
in his
7:45pm
No Killian couldn’t die. I could see the blood spreading through his white shirt.
I rushed forward to him, but Richard turned the gun on me.
“Don’t you even dare! You’re coming with me.” He barked.
I didn’t care about my life, all I cared about was Killian. I ignored Richard, trying to move forward.
Richard grabbed my arm with a snarl, but he made a mistake, because for a split second, his attention shifted from Killian to me.
And that was all Killian needed.
