Chapter 10

Pierce didn’t appear. The balcony remained shrouded in darkness.

Lucy scoffed, arms crossed, her eyes full of disdain.

She waved her hand dismissively.

“How do you still have the nerve to come here? Pierce doesn’t want to see you, and neither do I—nor our baby.”

She touched her stomach as she spoke, the gesture deliberate.

I bit my lip, staying silent.

Maybe silence was the best answer. I shouldn’t keep throwing myself into situations where I’d only end up hurt. Pierce had made his choice.

I closed my eyes, unable to tell if the wetness on my face was from tears or the cold water. I let it fall, unbothered.

Just as I took a few steps to leave, I heard a harsh cough behind me.

The violent coughing echoed through the night, and my heart clenched. I could practically picture Pierce clutching his chest in agony as if he might cough up a lung at any moment.

Was he sick?

I stopped in my tracks, glancing back at the balcony.

But no one was there.

The balcony windows were tightly shut, and