Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 202

Randal visibly stiffened, his breathing ragged and chaotic.

Suddenly, he released his grip on her and shot up into a sitting position. "Fine," he rasped, tossing the words over his shoulder without looking back. "I won't touch you."

He walked out the door and didn't return. For the next few days, he didn't even show his face.

He was likely still furious over her staunch rejection that night, or perhaps he was waiting for her to swallow her pride and seek him out.

But she had no time to entertain his moods; her mind was completely occupied by the tiny life growing inside her.

It was better if he stayed away. It saved her the exhausting effort of dealing with him and the constant terror that her pregnancy might be exposed.

After agonizing over it for days, she finally made her decision. She was going to keep the baby.

This baby would take her last name. They would have absolutely nothing to do with Randal Yates; this child would be hers and hers alone.

Once she made peace with that, the suffocating weight that had crushed her chest for days finally lifted, leaving her feeling lighter than she had in a long time.

She immediately called Sophie to share the news.

"Sophie," Willa breathed out, a profound sense of relief washing over her. "I've decided to keep the baby."

"Really?"

Sophie sounded even more thrilled than she was, already rattling off a list of gifts she needed to buy for the little one.

Willa couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Does Corbin know you're out here spending all his money?"

"He's got more money than he knows what to do with," Sophie retorted confidently. "Besides, it's for my future godchild. What's a few bucks?"

The two of them shared a warm laugh.

Willa leaned back against the headboard, feeling a pleasant lethargy wash over her. It felt like an eternity since she had laughed so freely.

"By the way," Sophie suddenly lowered her voice. "Where's that bastard? Has he been out of the house lately?"

Willa's smile faded slightly, not wanting to dwell on the subject. "Yeah, probably just busy."

"So, are you going to tell him?" Sophie asked.

"Yeah, when he gets back. It's not like I can hide it forever anyway."

"Warren's company has been audited multiple times recently, contracts are falling through, and the banks refuse to give us any loans. If this keeps up, we'll be bankrupt..."

Willa paused, completely caught off guard.

"It's... it's Mr. Yates. He had people dig into the company, and he put the word out that anyone who does business with us is making an enemy out of him..."

Naomi's voice broke into a sob. "Willa, I know I've failed you in the past, but we are completely out of options. Please, won't you help me?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Willa refused icily. "I can't help you."

"You can!" Naomi insisted, sounding even more desperate. "Mr. Yates adores you..."

Willa had no patience for this nonsense and abruptly cut her off. "He wouldn't target the Whitmans for no reason."

A beat of silence hung on the line before Naomi started stammering, "It's... it's just a tiny misunderstanding..."

"What misunderstanding?" Willa demanded.

"It's just..." Her voice dwindled to a near whisper. "Stella was just being foolish, and she made a little mistake..."