Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Elena: POV

The words hung in the air like poison gas.

Would you consider-

I stared at Julian. At his perfect face. His careful expression. The way his hands gripped the steering wheel like he was discussing a stock portfolio instead of our baby’s life.

“What did you just say? My voice came out small. Distant. Like it belonged to someone else.

Julian’s jaw tightened. “Elena, I’m just asking if we should think about our options-

“Options.” I repeated the word slowly. Tasted its ugliness. “You mean killing our baby.”

“That’s not ” He exhaled sharply. “That’s not what I’m saying,”

#

“Then what ARE you saying?” I twisted in my seat to face him fully. “Because it sounds like you’re asking me to terminate this pregnancy.”

The trees along Central Park blurred past us. Bare branches clawing at the gray November sky. I wanted to open the door and run. Just run until my lungs

gave out.

“I’m saying we need to be realistic.” Julian’s voice was clinical. Detached. “One in fifteen, Elena. That’s not a small probability. If the amniocentesis comes back showing Down syndrome or another chromosomal abnormality-

“Stop.” I pressed both hands against my stomach. ‘Just stop.”

‘We have to discuss this-”

‘He has a heartbeat!” The words exploded out of me. “I saw it today. On that screen. His heart was beating.”

“I know.” Julian’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “But if there’s a serious issue, we need to consider what that means. For the child’s quality of

life. For-

“Quality of life?” I couldn’t breathe. “You’re talking about quality of life?”

‘Yes.’ He pulled over abruptly. Right there on the side of the road. Turned to face me with those cold blue eyes. “Do you understand what special needs care involves? The constant medical interventions? The therapies? The fact that this child might never be independent?”

“So?” My voice cracked. “So you think children who aren’t perfect don’t deserve to live?”

“That’s not what I’m saying-

“Then what? What are you saying, Julian?” I was shouting now. I never shouted. “Because it sounds like you’re saying if our baby isn’t good enough for you, we should just… what? Throw him away?”

“Elena. His voice dropped. Dangerous. “You’re being emotional.”

1/3

2:09 pm

MA

Chapter 103-

LM BEING A MOTHER!”

The silence that followed was deafening.

I watched his throat work. Watched his choose his next words carefully. Like he was negotiating a merger.

I’m thinking about practical realities, he said finally. The financial burden. The emotional toll. What happens to this child when we’re gone? Who takes care of them then?”

“We do.” I was crying now. Hot, angry tears. “That’s what parents do, Julian. We take care of our children. No matter what.”

“Even if that child will suffer-

“You don’t know that!” I slammed my hand against the dashboard. “You don’t know anything! The test isn’t even back yet and you’re already planning to-* I couldn’t say it. Couldn’t make those words real.

Julian reached for my hand. I jerked away.

‘Don’t touch me,”

“Elena-

“You said I wasn’t worthy of having your baby.” My voice shook. “Three years ago. You said those exact words. And now that I’m pregnant, now that there might be something wrong, you don’t want it anyway.”

“That’s not fair-

“Fair?” I laughed. It sounded broken. “You want to talk about fair?”

He rubbed his temples. I’d never seen him do that before. Never seen him look anything less than perfectly controlled.

I’m trying to think about the future,” he said quietly. “About what’s best-”

*For who?” I cut him off. “For the baby? Or for you?”

“For all of us.”

Child.

“Liar.” The word came out flat. Dead. “You’re thinking about yourself. About how it would look. Julian Sterling with a defective child. What would your parents say? What would the board think?”

His face went pale. “That’s not-”

“Yes, it is. I wiped my eyes roughly. “You’ve never wanted this baby. Not really. To you, he’s just another business decision. Another problem to solve.

“You’re wrong.

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