Chapter 23
“Mr. Lloyd, right now, the company should be your priority. You need to focus on what to do next.”
“I need to go home.” Finley gripped the table for balance, barely steadying himself. “Take me to the family estate.”
After his father’s death, Finley’s mother, Paulina, had taken over most family matters. When Finley stumbled through the front
door, reeking of alcohol, Paulina’s face darkened instantly.
“What the hell is this?” she snapped. “Why are you drunk? And where’s Claire? Why isn’t she with you?”
She was sorting through a pile of supplements she’d bought for Claire, planning to take them over tomorrow. Despite her past dislike of Claire, the pregnancy had changed everything.
“Mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Paulina frowned, “What is it? This better not be about Claire’s baby. That child is the future of this family! If anything happened, I
“Her voice sharpened. “I’d never forgive her, and you’d better divorce her. I knew I shouldn’t have let you marry her
with her health issues and trouble conceiving.”
swear-
She kept ranting, completely missing the way Finley’s face twisted.
Then, after a long, suffocating silence, he finally spoke.
“Claire had a miscarriage. The baby’s gone.
“What?!” Paulina stared at him in disbelief. “You’re lying. The baby can’t just be gone like that. Did Claire do this on purpose? So I
wouldn’t have a grandchild?”
“No.” Finley’s throat tightened. “I was the one who pushed her down the stairs. It’s my fault she lost the baby.”
Paulina’s legs buckled, and she sank onto the couch.
“You… do you even hear yourself? She was carrying your child, and you pushed her? Even if you were fighting, how could you
