Love Burnt Baby Stayed (by Nina R.Calder) novel Chapter 16

If Shepard wanted to believe that lie, Briana’d let him. It was better to feed his anger than let him dig around and discover the truth that she was still carrying his baby.

“You never loved me, Shepard. Your heart was always Vivian’s. So why should I keep bending over backwards for you? Why should I stay? Henry is nothing like you.

He tried to talk me out of marrying you, but I was too stubborn to listen. I got exactly what I deserved. And after five years, he’s still there, waiting for me.

“Do you remember the day we finalized the divorce? You saw him. Henry found me the moment I was out of the courthouse. And he asked me… if I would be with him.”

She let her voice rise at the end, lacing the words with a quiet, sharp pride.

A cold, violent anger settled over Shepard’s face, his gaze so dark that it felt like a physical threat.

Briana lifted her hand and laid it softly against his chest. “There now, don’t be angry. You’re just upset I ended the pregnancy without asking you. But you should get used to me making my own choices. This is only the first of many.”

Her words were meant to sound soothing, but she knew they would only stoke his anger further.

“You don’t care about the baby,” she said, her voice low and cutting. “You care that I defied you. Fine, I’m sorry. And…” She smiled, a cold, deliberate curve of her lips. “And I’d do it again.”

Shepard finally lost control. His hand clamped under her chin, tilting her face up to meet the storm in his gaze.

Briana didn’t fight it. She held his gaze and tilted her head back, giving him better access, daring him to

continue.

“You’re playing with fire, Briana,” he said through gritted teeth.

“But you won’t kill me,” she breathed out.

“Try me,” he whispered back, the challenge clear in his eyes.

Briana held his gaze, unflinching. All the old warmth was gone from her eyes, replaced by something cold and mocking.

There was a time he could read her love for him in every glance. Now, her face was a closed door.

“I need you to understand this, Shepard,” she began. “Even if you’d wanted this baby, I wouldn’t have kept

1. it. I don’t love you anymore. I was blind before, and I paid the price for it, but now I am clear–headed.”

She paused, and then went on in that same deliberate tone, “Do you want to know why?”

Shepard stared back, his expression unreadable.

“Because you would make a terrible father,” she said firmly.

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He had spent years telling her she wasn’t good enough. Now the tables had turned.

A child should be born of love, into the warmth of a waiting family and the promise of a ready home.

Briana would rather raise a child alone than have them grow up torn between two people who could never find peace together.

His grip tightened without warning, stealing what little air she had left.

Her vision swam, but she didn’t fight back. If he was going to do his worst, she silently dared him to try.

Then he released her abruptly and turned away, kicking the bedside chair so hard that it slammed into the wall.

He followed it with his fist, punching the plaster hard enough to crack it and leave a bloody mark behind.

Briana sagged against the bed, dragging air back into her lungs.

She coughed until her throat ached, slowly coming back to herself.

The silence stretched until Shepard finally spoke, his voice low and weary, “Fine. You win this one.”

Briana took a slow breath before replying, “You won every time. Let me have this one.”

“You’ll pay for this,” Shepard said sharply.

“Show some mercy, Shepard.”

“You’re the one without mercy, Briana.” With those final words, he turned and slammed the door shut.

Briana lay back and closed her eyes, exhausted. Her hospital gown was damp with sweat, clinging to her skin. She felt as though she’d just barely escaped.

The worst part was that Shepard had discovered the surgery, but the relief was that he still didn’t know she was carrying another one of his children.

‘So be it. When this child is born, Shepard will never know it is his,‘ she thought.

“You’re safe now, baby,” Briana whispered to her belly. “No one can take you from me.”

She let her hand rest there, the simple contact finally bringing her a quiet sense of peace. Now she could just focus on her health and the baby.

Shepard left the room, his expression dark as he strode down the hallway.

Charles, who had been waiting near the elevators, rushed forward. “Mr. Carter-”

“Get lost,” Briana said, her voice low and cold.

Charles stepped back, scratching his nose awkwardly.

Just as Shepard stepped inside the elevator, he glanced back. “Your sister is something else.”

“Uh…” Charles wasn’t sure how to take that.

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After Shepard and his men were gone, Charles slipped into the hospital room.

“Briana” Charles sighed, shaking his head. “What am I supposed to do with you?” He sounded more frustrated than truly angry, the kind of exasperation that came from helpless concern.

Brima kept her eyes closed. “Now you know” she said quietly, “Now you know how I felt.”

“You’re just” Charles clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “No wonder Shepard fell out of love. Men want someone soft, someone who takes care of them. Not… well, not someone like you.”

“I’m not here to please a man,” she shot back.

Charles leaned in, voice dropping to a murmur. “Just tell me the truth, Briana. You didn’t lose the baby, did you? It’s still there,”

“It’s gone,” she said flatly.

Charles sank into the couch, a picture of defeat, “Well, that’s it, then. We have nothing, Shepard wants us ruined, and soon we’ll be begging on street corners”

Briana opened her eyes, her gaze suddenly clear and focused, “Just wait until I’m out of here,” she said, her voice low but firm. “I know what to do”

Charles let out a dismissive snort. He wasn’t buying it.

Three days later, Briana checked out of the hospital.

She handled everything herself, Charles was long gone, but that was fine by her. She’d never planned on counting on him, after all,

From the hospital, she headed to the mall. With the little money she had left, she was determined to buy herself one good outfit, something to help her face the world with a little dignity. She refused to look completely defeated.

When she had left the Carter Estate, she’d taken only her essential papers, leaving everything else behind.

Not that any of it was ever hers to begin with. It all belonged to Shepard’s “real wife,” the one he actually acknowledged,

Briana was making her way through the mall when someone abruptly stepped in front of her, a hand coming up to block her way,

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” said a mall employee with a polite smile. “This area is closed for a private booking. Please use the other path.

“Sure,” Briana said, turning to leave, but then she stopped. Coming out of the boutique were two people she knew all too well, Shepard and Vivian.

Vivian clung to Shepard’s arm, her face glowing. Every so often, she tilted her head to rest it against his shoulder.

Behind them trailed bodyguards and assistants, their arms laden with shopping bags.

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Shepard had never once gone shopping with Briana. But for Vivian, he’d rented out the entire mall.

13:08 Thu, 18 Dec TA57

Chapter 17